MLB Player News

Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart and outfielder Billy Hamilton each hit a home run in Thursday night's 5-1 win over the Braves. 

Barnhart hit a solo home run on a 3-2 pitch to start the top of the seventh inning. It was Barnhart's second home run of the season. He's now hitting .231/.286/.692 after going 1 for 4 against Atlanta. 

Hamilton hit his home run in the top of the ninth inning, also giving him his second of the season. Hamilton went 1 for 5 and is now hitting .217//.278/.349. 

Reds backup catcher Brayan Pena is giving way to his backup Thursday night for the second straight game.

Pena, who has been behind the plate with Devin Mesoraco on the mend, is set to sit in Atlanta. Tucker Barnhart is in the lineup instead.

An 0-for-2 performance Tuesday ended a six-game hitting streak for Pena.

Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski was given a day off on Thursday, after catching the previous three games. Pierzynski has been hot at the plate lately, batting .455 (10 for 22) with nine RBI in his last six games.

Christian Bethancourt got the start behind the dish for the Braves, and left fielder Kelly Johnson was inserted into the cleanup spot in the lineup against the Reds on Thursday, the team announced.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal was dropped from fifth in the batting order to seventh in the team's new-look lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.

Manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday that he spoke with Grandal last weeked about simplifying his approach at the plate in order to help kickstart his offense, MLB.com reports.

"I told him to simplify -- get good pitches, hit the ball hard," Mattingly said. "We'll try to move him a little bit to get to that. If we can simplify, he'll be fine. I feel like he's trying really hard."

Grandal has hit just .196/.317/.294 with one home run and two RBI in 51 at-bats coming into Wednesday's game.

Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart hit his first home run of the season during Wednesday's 8-3 loss to the Brewers.

Barnhart finished the game 1 for 2 with one walk. Barnhart has been filling in for Devin Mesoraco, who has been dealing with a hip injury. Barnhart has made three starts this season and is 2 for 9.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco continues to be held out of the starting lineup due to a hip impingement, as he missed a 16th straight start Wednesday vs. Milwaukee. Tucker Barnhart made his third start of the season Wednesday.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear Mesoraco is closer to being back in the starting lineup. General manager Walt Jocketty said Wednesday that Mesoraco is still 7-10 days away from catching, per MLB Network Radio.

"The hip is getting better," Jocketty said. "We hope to have him catching in the next two weeks."

Mesoraco has been able to pinch-hit since the last time he started April 11. He is 0 for 2 with two walks and one strikeout as a pinch-hitter. He has also been hit by a pitch in that span.

The Marlins got RBI from three players in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Mets. 

Giancarlo Stanton singled in a run in the sixth to put the Marlins on top and record his 18th RBI of the season.

J.T. Realmuto singled in Stanton for his third RBI of the year. 

Michael Morse singled in the game-winning run in the eighth for his eighth RBI of the year. 

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

Mesoraco hasn't started since April 12 while recovering from a hip impingement, but he's served as a pinch-hitter sporadically over the last week. Bryan Pena draws the start at catcher and bats eighth Tuesday.

The Reds are heavy favorites (-190) against the Brewers Tuesday with Johnny Cueto on the mound.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche and catcher Carlos Ruiz are back in the starting lineup Monday against the Cardinals, the team announced.

Asche was given the day off Sunday after starting the last nine games in a row for Philadelphia. He is hitting .305 with two home runs and three RBI in 59 at-bats this season.

Ruiz got Sunday off after starting the last two games in a row, pushing Cameron Rupp to the bench. Ruiz is hitting .196 in 46 at-bats. The Phillies are currently the underdogs (+135) against St. Louis.

Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez and catcher Martin Maldonado will return to the lineup Monday against the Reds, the team announced.

Ramirez will replace Hector Gomez at third, who gave Ramirez the day off Sunday. He is hitting just .197 with six RBI in 61 at-bats this season. Maldonado started five consecutive games before getting the day off Sunday. Maldonado is hitting just .167 in 24 at-bats.

The Brewers are currently the underdogs (+105) against Cincinnati.