MLB Player News
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Patrick Bailey C | SF
Giants' Patrick Bailey: Receiving afternoon off
Bailey is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Bailey will get a breather for Thursday's day game after he started behind the plate in both of the first two games of the series. Curt Casali will spell him at catcher, forming a battery with starting pitcher Jordan Hicks.
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Elias Diaz C | SD
Rockies' Elias Diaz: Not close to return
Manager Bud Black said Tuesday that Diaz (calf) will be out for at least another week, MLB.com reports.
Diaz has resumed baseball activities but is not sprinting at full speed and is still experiencing some soreness. The Rockies have stressed the importance of Diaz returning at full strength, so his absence could extend into the middle of July. Jacob Stallings should remain the team's primary catcher in the meantime.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: IL stay to be minimal
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday the club is looking for Moreno (thumb) to return after a minimum stay on the 10-day injured list, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports. He's eligible to return next Tuesday.
Moreno, who has been hitting off a tee and playing catch, will begin ramping up Thursday. That's when he'll catch a bullpen session thrown by injured ace Zac Gallen (hamstring). After that, the catcher is scheduled for a game in the Arizona Complex League over the weekend, setting up a potential return Tuesday, when the club kicks off a three-game set on the road against the Dodgers.
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Francisco Alvarez C | NYM
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Perfect at plate in big win
Alvarez went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, a walk, three total runs and three total RBI in a 12-2 victory versus the Yankees on Wednesday.
Alvarez touched up Yankees starter Luis Gil for a two-run homer in the third inning and added a run-scoring double in the fifth. The catcher also singled for his third three-hit performance during his current nine-game hitting streak. Alvarez has been scorching during that stretch, batting .516 (16-for-31) with three home runs, nine RBI and a 7:7 BB:K. His slash line is up to an impressive .313/.383/.521 on the campaign.
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Kyle Higashioka C | SD
Padres' Kyle Higashioka: Racks up two homers, six RBI
Higashioka went 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI in Wednesday's 8-5 win against the Nationals.
Higashioka drove in all but two of San Diego's eight runs. He swatted a two-run homer to kick off the scoring in the second inning and capped his offensive outburst with a grand slam in the eighth. The grand slam was the first of Higashioka's career, while the multi-homer effort was his fifth as a big leaguer. He's hitting only .207 on the season but has otherwise provided good production with eight homers and 20 RBI in 32 games.
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Austin Barnes C | LAD
Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Draws start in series finale
Barnes will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
He'll be making his 22nd start of the season while top backstop Will Smith rests in the series finale. Over 74 plate appearances on the campaign, Barnes is hitting .203 with no home runs and two RBI.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Exits starting nine
Smith is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the White Sox.
Smith started each of the previous three games at catcher but will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench. Austin Barnes will step in behind the plate Wednesday.
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
Pirates' Yasmani Grandal: Getting rest day
Grandal is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Grandal will get a breather for the day game Wednesday after he started behind the dish in each of the Pirates' last three contests. Jason Delay will spell Grandal, forming a battery with starting pitcher Luis Ortiz.