MLB Player News

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has declared that he will back Saturday against St. Louis, he has told a team reporter. He added that he has passed all the required medical tests.

Grandal, who has been on the 7-day concussion disabled list, is beginning a rehab stint at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

When he returns, he will do so with a .291 average and 17 RBI.

The hip issue that has prevented Reds C Devin Mesoraco from playing since last Wednesday now has him on the 15-day disabled list, the Cincinnati Enquirer has reported.

Mesoraco is dealing with a left hip impingement. The Reds had put off the move in hopes that he could pinch-hit and eventually get back behind the plate.

The loss is another blow to a Cincinnati team that has lost eight in a row. Mesoraco, who emerged as one of the premier hitting catchers in the big leagues last season, was off to a poor start in 2015 with a slash line of .178/.275/.244. He has no home runs, two runs scored and a mere two RBI in 45 at-bats.

Shelved Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is set to play five innings in an extended spring training game Tuesday, per NJ.com.

The report further states that d'Arnaud could report to Triple-A Las Vegas in five or six days and that GM Sandy Alderson believes he could be back with the Mets as early as June 1 in San Diego, but more likely the following series against Arizona.

d'Arnaud was off to a productive start before going down with a fractured pinkie. He was batting .317 with 10 RBI in just 41 at-bats.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal will begin his Triple-A rehab assignment with Oklahoma City on Monday against Salt Lake and serve as the designated hitter, according to the Los Angeles News Group.

Grandal is currently on the 7-day DL after suffering a concussion when he took a bat to the head on Saturday. Grandal is hitting .291 with 17 RBI in 103 at-bats and could be activated as soon as he's eligible.

The Mets recalled infielder Danny Muno from Triple-A Las Vegas after Sunday's game and optioned catcher Johnny Monell to the same club.

Muno, who went 1 for 6 in four games with the Mets in April, has hit .280/.354/.400 with one home run, 12 RBI and three stolen bases in 100 at-bats with Las Vegas. Monell was 1 for 16 with a double in his stint with the Mets and returns to a .397/.455/.638 line with four home runs and 15 RBI in 58 at-bats with Las Vegas.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said that the organization believes catcher Yasmani Grandal will be able to come off of the 7-day concussion disabled list when eligible, according to SB Nation's True Blue LA. 

It's possible that Grandal participates in two or three minor-league rehab games, however. 

On Saturday, Grandal was hit in the facemask by a backswing from Yangervis Solarte, which triggered a head injury. He was diagnosed with a mild concussion. 

"I don't have the degree of how good he was doing yesterday, but just talking to him, he felt 100 percent yesterday," Mattingly said, via MLB.com. "If everything goes good and he gets cleared, I think he'll get some games in order to stay sharp."

This season, Grandal is slashing .291/.403/.466. 

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour gets his fourth straight start at first base on Sunday. He'll bat fifth in the lineup. 

The Marlins also gave catcher J.T. Realmuto a rest. Replacing him in the lineup behind the plate is Jhonatan Solano, who gets his fifth start of the year. He'll bat eighth.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and second baseman Chase Utley are out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game. 

Both starters were rested against a left-handed pitcher. Howard is replaced in the lineup by Darin Ruf, who gets his seventh start at the position. He'll bat third. 

Utley is replaced by Cesar Hernandez, who starts at second for the first time in 15 games. He'll bat sixth. 

Carlos Ruiz also gets Sunday off. Replacing him at catcher is Cameron Rupp, who gets his 14th start of the year. He'll bat eighth.

Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki is not in the starting lineup on Sunday. 

Plawecki sits after four straight starts behind the plate. He's replaced by Anthony Recker, who gets his ninth start of the year. Recker will bat sixth. 

Third baseman Eric Campbell is also out of the lineup, after eight consecutive starts. He's replaced by Ruben Tejada, who will start at third for just the second time this year. He's hitting eighth. 

Diamondbacks catcher Tuffy Gosewisch launched his first home run in over a year, as Arizona fell to the Cubs 9-6 on Saturday. Gosewisch's only other home run came on April 22, 2014.

Saturday's solo shot came in the sixth inning off Cubs' starter Jake Arrieta, and gave the D-Backs a 6-4 lead. The 31-year-old Gosewisch has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games and owns a .231 batting average on the season.