MLB Player News
-
Sebastian Rivero C | LAA
Angels' Sebastian Rivero: Catching at spring-training complex
Rivero (hand) has been catching at the Angels' spring complex in Arizona, MLB.com reports.
Rivero was placed on the 10-day IL on June 10 due to a left hamate fracture. He was given an original return timeline of four weeks, but it appears he'll need a little more time than that. Rivero could be activated shortly after the All-Star break, though it's unclear if he'll still have a spot on the big-league roster since the Angels traded for Tyler Heineman following Rivero's injury and have Travis d'Arnaud (foot) potentially returning by the end of the month as well.
-
Travis d'Arnaud C | LAA
Angels' Travis d'Arnaud: Takes big steps toward return
D'Arnaud (foot) caught Yusei Kikuchi's bullpen session July 5 and progressed to running the bases July 10, MLB.com reports.
D'Arnaud had already been swinging a bat and throwing, but the advancement to running the bases is a big step in his recovery from plantar fasciitis in his right foot. If the veteran backstop continues to make steady progress, he could be activated from the 60-day IL by the end of July. In the meantime, Tyler Heineman will remain the backup catcher to Logan O'Hoppe.
-
Carlos Narvaez C | BOS
Red Sox's Carlos Narvaez: Heading to bench Sunday
Narvaez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Narvaez will hit the bench for the second time in the series while Connor Wong gets the nod behind the dish. Since the start of June, Narvaez is slashing just .111/.160/.133, and that lack of offensive production could put him at risk of falling out of a timeshare with Wong and moving into a clear No. 2 role.
-
Adley Rutschman C | BAL
Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Idle for series finale
Rutschman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Rutschman will get a chance to rest in the Orioles' final game before the All-Star break after he had started behind the plate both of the previous two days and had been included in the lineup at catcher or designated hitter in each of the last nine contests. With Rutschman taking a seat, Samuel Basallo will handle catching duties and Taylor Ward will get a turn as the Orioles' DH.
-
William Contreras C | MIL
Brewers' William Contreras: Idle for series finale
Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Even though he was rested for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, Contreras will get another breather Sunday in the Brewers' final game before the All-Star break. Gary Sanchez will step in behind the dish as a replacement for Contreras, who will make his third appearance in the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday in Philadelphia after slashing .282/.344/.398 with nine home runs, one stolen base, 53 RBI and 48 runs in 89 first-half games.
-
Carson Kelly C | CHC
Cubs' Carson Kelly: Blasts sixth home run Saturday
Kelly went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a 5-3 win against the Reds on Saturday.
Kelly hit his second home run in his last four games in the sixth inning, giving him six long balls on the season. The veteran catcher was making his fourth straight start, with Saturday's appearance coming at DH as Miguel Amaya handled duties behind the plate. Kelly and Amaya have been alternating pretty regularly as Chicago's backstop, limiting the fantasy ceiling of each as long as they're splitting the workload.
-
James McCann C | ARI
Diamondbacks' James McCann: Launches two homers in win
McCann went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Saturday's 9-2 win over the Dodgers.
McCann capped a five-run sixth inning with a three-run homer, then followed it up with a solo shot in the eighth to pad Arizona's lead. The catcher has gone 3-for-7 over two games since he returned from a quadriceps strain. On the year, he's batting .227 with a .603 OPS, two homers, 10 RBI, five runs scored and three doubles over 69 plate appearances. McCann is likely to remain in the backup role behind Gabriel Moreno for starts at catcher.
-
J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: Drives in two runs Saturday
Realmuto went 1-for-4 with a two-run double during the Phillies' 4-2 win over the Tigers on Saturday.
Realmuto extended the Phillies' lead to 3-0 with a two-run double in the fourth inning before coming home to score on an RBI single by Derek Hill in the same frame. Realmuto is slashing .200/.281/.338 with three steals, seven home runs and 30 RBI across 253 plate appearances this season and is batting .173 with five homers, 21 RBI and 14 runs in 28 games since the start of June.