MLB Player News
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Jacob Stallings C | BAL
Pirates' Jacob Stallings: Takes Bumgarner deep
Stallings went 2-for-3 with a home run against the Giants on Monday.
He's seen the bulk of starts behind home plate over the past month, but mostly because of his defensive skills. General manager Neal Huntington has said that improving the catching position for 2020 is one of his main concerns, meaning that Stallings may not see another year-over-year bump in playing time. He's slashing .268/.339/.389 with five homers in 175 plate appearances.
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Francisco Mejia C | TB
Padres' Francisco Mejia: Could return next week
Mejia (oblique) took batting practice Monday and could return next week, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Mejia swung the bat for the first time since suffering a right oblique strain Aug. 28. Manager Andy Green indicated that Mejia would take batting practice for a few more days before potentially playing in the instructional league. If all goes well, the 23-year-old could return to the Padres next week.
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
Brewers' Yasmani Grandal: Goes deep again
Grandal went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in Monday's 8-3 win over Miami.
After hitting just three homers in July and August combined, Grandal has already launched five in September and four in his last five games. The switch-hitting catcher is up to 26 long balls this season, one short of his career high set in 2016.
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Willson Contreras 1B | BOS
Cubs' Willson Contreras: Retreats to bench
Contreras isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Padres.
Contreras will take a seat after going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Sunday's series finale against Milwaukee. Victor Caratini will draw the start behind the dish and is set to bat fifth.
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Yan Gomes C | CHC
Nationals' Yan Gomes: Blasts two solo shots
Gomes went 2-for-5 with two solo home runs and a strikeout Sunday in Atlanta.
He is now hitting .217 with nine home runs on the year. Kurt Suzuki is day-to-day with elbow inflammation, so Gomes is a good bet to continue to see steady work this week.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Resting Sunday
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Smith is merely receiving some routine maintenance after three consecutive starts behind the plate. Backup catcher Russell Martin will form a battery with starting pitcher Julio Urias in the series finale.
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Tres Barrera C | WAS
Nationals' Tres Barrera: Heading to majors
Barrera had his contract selected from Double-A Harrisburg by the Nationals on Sunday, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.
The 24-year-old will provide some additional catching depth after Kurt Suzuki (elbow) got hurt Saturday. Barrera had a .249/.323/.381 slash line with eight home runs in 101 games at Double-A.
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J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: Resting Sunday
Realmuto is not in the lineup Sunday against the Mets.
Realmuto has been on a tear over his last five games, going 10-for-22 with three homers and eight RBI. He'll sit Sunday, with Andrew Knapp filling in behind the plate.
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
Brewers' Yasmani Grandal: Continues homer binge
Grandal went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Cubs.
Grandal came through in the eighth inning for the Brewers, as his 397-foot shot to center field tied the game 2-2 and set the stage for Christian Yelich's walkoff in the ninth. The veteran backstop has found his power stroke over the last five games, going 8-for-21 with four home runs, a double, six runs scored and five RBI.