MLB Player News

Grandal went 1-for-4 with an RBI double during Thursday's 1-0 win over the Brewers.

Grandal broke the stalemate in the seventh inning, tagging Aaron Civale for a one-out double to score Jack Suwinski from first base. Grandal started Thursday's contest behind the dish after yielding to Joey Bart in each of the Pirates' previous three games. In 132 plate appearances, Grandal is slashing .184/.214/.304 with 22 strikeouts and only five walks.

Bart isn't in the Pirates' lineup for Thursday's game against Milwaukee.

After launching a grand slam Tuesday, Bart was held hitless in three at-bats during Wednesday's contest, and he'll now receive a breather during Thursday's rubber match. Yasmani Grandal will fill in behind the dish and bat ninth.

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

Riley Adams will draw the start at catcher while Ruiz rests for the day game after a night game. Ruiz had started in each of the Nationals' last three contests, going 4-for-12 with a home run, a double, two RBI and two runs.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez will receive a breather for Thursday's matinee contest after he had started each of the previous four days, with three coming at catcher and one at designated hitter. Luis Torrens will fill in behind the dish Thursday in place of Alvarez, who is slashing .300/.382/.433 thus far in July.

Bailey went 2-for-2 with a home run, three walks and three runs scored in Wednesday's loss to the Blue Jays.

Bailey reached five times on the night, scoring a run in two of his first three trips to the plate before smacking a solo homer in the ninth to give him seven long balls on the season. The catcher has now hit safely in three straight games and has recorded multiple hits in each of his last two. Wednesday also marked only the fourth time on the campaign that Bailey's drawn multiple walks.

Diaz is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds.

Diaz will receive a breather for Thursday's day game after he went 2-for-4 with an RBI while catching all nine innings of the Rockies' 6-5 win Wednesday night. Hunter Goodman will handle the catching duties for Colorado.

Stephenson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Rockies.

Stephenson has feasted on Colorado pitching, going 6-for-13 with five extra-base hits over the first three games of this week's series. Prior to Tuesday, he had gone 22 games without a multi-hit effort. The catcher is now at a .245/.318/.425 slash line with eight homers, 29 RBI, 34 runs scored, 16 doubles and one stolen base over 75 contests.

Moreno was scratched from Arizona's lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against Atlanta due to lower-back tightness, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

The team said that Moreno is still available off the bench for Wednesday's contest, so his back injury doesn't appear to be too serious. Nonetheless, Jose Herrera will start behind the plate instead and bat ninth.

Fortes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.

Fortes will get a rest after he was behind the plate for both of the previous two games while going 1-for-6 with a double, an RBI and a run. Ali Sanchez will catch for starting pitcher Bryan Hoeing on Wednesday.

Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

The newly minted All-Star will get a breather Wednesday while Austin Barnes receives a turn behind the dish. Smith was one of the few bright spots for the Dodgers in Tuesday's 10-1 loss in the series opener, going 2-for-4 with a walk in the blowout.