MLB Player News

Grandal (calf) is starting Monday's game against the Twins.

Grandal left Friday's win over the Tigers with calf tightness and missed the last two games while he recovered. However, he'll start behind the plate and bat fifth Monday. The 32-year-old has crossed the plate in nine of his last 10 appearances, and he's slashed .323/.405/.724 with four home runs, a double, 14 RBI and 10 runs during that time.

Barnhart is on the bench for Monday's game against the Royals, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

He sits after going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Sunday's contest, raising his batting average to a respectable .269 on the season. Tyler Stephenson is catching and batting cleanup in the series opener Monday.

Stubbs was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Stubbs started in one game during his most recent stint on the major-league roster, and he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. He'll now head back to the minors since Martin Maldonado (bereavement) will return to the active roster ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Athletics.

Maldonado (bereavement) will be active for Tuesday's series opener against Oakland, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The catcher hit .235 with a homer, four RBI and four runs in his last 10 games before going on the bereavement list Wednesday. Garrett Stubbs returns to Triple-A Sugar Land now that Maldonado is back with the Astros.

Realmuto went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 11-1 loss to the Padres.

The Phillies were unable to generate much offensive production Sunday, but Realmuto provided the team's lone run with his solo blast in the bottom of the sixth. The 30-year-old had hit just .080 with four strikeouts across the six games leading up to Sunday's matchup, but he's now recorded extra-base hits in each of the last two contests.

Leon went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-7 extra-inning loss to Atlanta.

Leon went yard in the ninth inning for his second homer of the season. Playing time remains scarce for the backup catcher, who has just 17 at-bats in the last two weeks. He's batting .182 with seven RBI, seven runs scored and three doubles through 130 plate appearances overall.

Stassi is out of the lineup Sunday versus Baltimore, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Stassi went 3-for-7 with an RBI, a walk and a run over the first two games of the series and will receive the day off Sunday. Kurt Suzuki will fill in behind the plate and bat seventh.

Murphy is out of the lineup Sunday versus the Red Sox, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Murphy was behind the plate for the first two games of the series and will take a seat for the finale. Aramis Garcia will start at catcher and bat ninth in his place Sunday.

Diaz is out of the lineup Sunday versus the Cardinals.

Diaz started six of the past seven games and will receive the day off Sunday. Dom Nunez will work behind the plate in his place.

McCann is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McCann was never likely to start both games of Sunday's twin bill, and he'll take a seat during the matinee. Tomas Nido will catch in the afternoon contest for the Mets.