MLB Player News

Herrera could face competition as the primary catcher with the Diamondbacks expected to sign veteran backstop James McCann, MLB.com reports.

Herrera has started six of the last seven games since Arizona placed Gabriel Moreno (hand) on the 10-day injured list. The Diamondbacks' catchers are a combined 4-for-23 during that stretch, and Herrera is batting .176 this season. The 35-year-old McCann may not know Arizona's pitchers as intimately as Herrera, but he has vast experience in handling pitchers and in-game strategy while bringing more pop to the position.

McGuire went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 14-6 loss to the Mariners.

Starting for a resting Carson Kelly, McGuire continued to serve as a very capable backup catcher. The veteran has gone deep four times already in only 12 games, helping push his OPS to .883. McGuire's career high in home runs is five, which he recorded across 30 games for the Blue Jays back in 2019. He may ultimately get bumped from the roster whenever Miguel Amaya (oblique) is able to return from the injured list, but McGuire is at least providing some short-term fantasy value on days when he's in the lineup.

Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Smith started the previous three games and will receive a day off after going 2-for-4 with a double and a solo homer in Saturday's contest. Dalton Rushing will step in behind the plate to catch for righty Shohei Ohtani in Sunday's series finale.

Goodman is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Goodman will sit Sunday after going 3-for-12 with two walks, a double and two RBI while starting in each of the previous three contests. Braxton Fulford will step in behind the plate and bat eighth in the series finale versus Arizona.

Pages is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Pages will get some rest after he started behind the plate each of the Cardinals' last three games. Yohel Pozo will draw the start at catcher and will form a battery with right-hander Miles Mikolas.

The Mets recalled Senger from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.

The 28-year-old should serve as the backup to Luis Torrens with Francisco Alvarez being optioned to Syracuse. Senger has appeared in 13 big-league games this season and has a .179/.207/.214 slash line in 29 plate appearances.

Torrens is expected to take over as the Mets' No. 1 catcher after Francisco Alvarez was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday. He'll be behind the plate and bat sixth for Sunday's series finale in Philadelphia.

Torrens has served as New York's backup catcher since Alvarez was cleared for his season debut in late April, but the latter has been demoted due to his offensive struggles. Torrens has delivered a .232/.309/.344 slash line and strong defense, but he likely won't have much fantasy appeal outside of two-catcher formats.

The Mets optioned Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.

Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 11-4 win over Philadelphia, but the Mets will still send him to the minors because he's struggled to a .236/.319/.333 slash line and 27.5 percent strikeout rate through 35 contests this season. The 23-year-old started to revamp his swing mechanics over the winter, but his spring training was interrupted by a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, which sidelined him for the first month of the season. The Mets are likely sending Alvarez down to continue working on his swing, and he should return to the big club once he straightens out his plate approach. Hayden Senger was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move to serve as New York's backup catcher, while Luis Torrens is poised to take over the No. 1 job.

McGuire will start at catcher and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Mariners.

McGuire will crack the lineup for the second time in Chicago's last five contests while Carson Kelly gets a breather for the series finale. Since getting called up from Triple-A Iowa on May 25, McGuire has slugged three home runs and owns an .840 OPS over 11 games. Despite his success, McGuire is expected to head back to Triple-A once Miguel Amaya (oblique) is able to return from the injured list.

Kelly is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.

Kelly will take a seat after starting three of Chicago's last four contests. In his stead, Reese McGuire will start behind the plate and bat eighth. After a hot start to the season, Kelly is slumping this month, slashing just .171/.209/.220 in 11 June games.