MLB Player News

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco, who saw his first action since April 11 as the designated hitter when the team was in Chicago, was not in the starting lineup for Monday's game, as he continues to recover from the hip impingement that has sidelined him for most of the year. 

Mesoraco had two hits Sunday, doubling his total on the year, but will be limited to pinch-hitting duty for the time being now that the Reds are playing NL teams. Despite his injury potentially being serious enough to require surgery, the Reds have resisted placing him on the disabled list since he can still hit and run, per MLB.com. 

"It's definitely nice to play but you want to help out. If I go out there and don't help, it's no fun," he said.

Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart only has six starts on the season, but he will get the nod Monday as Cincinnati opens a series against the Braves. 

One of Barnhart's previous starts came on April 30 against Atlanta pitcher Shelby Miller, the same hurler whom the Reds will face Monday. Barnhart hit a home run off Miller in that game, one of five Reds in the starting lineup who have taken Miller deep, including starting pitcher Mike Leake. 

Barnhart is hitting .250 on the season with two homers and two RBIs. 

Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto has hit just .180/.175/.246 with five RBI in 61 at-bats against right-handed pitchers this season.

Realmuto has assumed starter duties since the release of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and while he's had no issues against lefties (.357/.471/.643 in 14 at-bats), he has yet to find success against right-handers. He got the day off Sunday after going 0 for 11 in his previous three games.

Mets catcher Johnny Monell has only taken two at-bats in 2015, but made one count on Sunday, delivering a two-run double in the eighth inning in Philadelphia.

"I just knew that guys in front of me were getting on and I would have an opportunity with some people on base to hit," Monell said to the New York Post. "I ended up squaring up pretty good and it ends up in the gap, scoring two and giving us a little cushion going into the ninth."

Monell hit .397 with Triple-A Las Vegas before getting called up to New York.

Catcher Martin Maldonado went 3 for 5 on Sunday with a home run and then a walk-off RBI single in the Brewers' 3-2, 11-inning win over the Cubs.

The homer was Maldonado's second of the year and first since April 21.

Reds designated hitter Devin Mesoraco went 2 for 4 with an RBI triple in his team's 4-3 loss to the White Sox Sunday.

Mesoraco has been limited by a hip injury for much of the year, but he was able to make two starts this weekend while serving as the designated hitter. He had just two hits on the season coming into Sunday's game before doubling his total in one day.

Mesoraco has hit .118/.231/.176 with one stolen base in 34 at-bats. With the Reds leaving Chicago to return to non-DH action, the catcher will likely be limited to pinch-hit duty in the immediate future.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, right fielder Andre Ethier and third baseman Juan Uribe are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Rockies.

Grandal has been red hot in May, raising his average from .189 to .307 in a span of seven games, but he'll get a second straight day off Sunday after Saturday's game was postponed. A.J. Ellis will start behind the plate.

The Dodgers are heavy road favorites (-185) Sunday.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco is in the starting lineup Sunday, batting sixth and serving as the designated hitter in his team's matchup with the White Sox.

Mesoraco made his first start since April 11 in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, as he's been limited to pinch-hit duty while dealing with a hip impingement. With the option to serve as designated hitter off the table after Sunday's game, Mesoraco will likely return to pinch-hit duty while trying to rehab the injury. He's just 2 for 30 on the season.

The Reds are underdogs (+110) in Chicago Sunday.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is scheduled for an exam Tuesday to determine if he can remove his soft cast and be cleared for baseball activity, ESPN New York reports.

d'Arnaud suffered a broken pinky finger after being hit by a pitch three weeks ago and is on the 15-day disabled list while recovering. He has hit .317/.356/.537 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 41 at-bats.

Mets rookies Dilson Herrera and Kevin Plawecki are out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Herrera has made seven straight starts at second base since joining the lineup but will get a breather Sunday, with Ruben Tejada taking his place. Plawecki has made five straight starts behind the plate, but Anthony Recker will catch Sunday.

The Mets are road favorites (-150) in Philadelphia.