MLB Player News

Smith isn't in Saturday's lineup against the Rangers.

Smith has hit doubles in each of the past two games, but he'll get a breather Saturday. Austin Barnes will start behind the dish in his absence.

Wallach (undisclosed) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Wallach was placed on the injured list earlier this month. He should immediately slot in as Jorge Alfaro's backup with Francisco Cervelli (concussion) still recovering, and he could see an occasional start behind the plate.

Sanchez is not in the starting lineup against the Mets on Saturday.

Sanchez is hitting just .130 with 37 strikeouts across 77 at-bats and will receive a routine day off Saturday. Erik Kratz will get the nod behind the dish in his place.

Mejia (thumb) has been hitting at the Padres' alternate training site and could be activated from the injured list in the near future, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Mejia was placed on the 10-day IL with a left-thumb bruise Aug. 17. He has resumed swinging the bat, though he hasn't yet reached a point in which he's ready to return. "He is progressing," manager Jayce Tingler said. "He's currently at USD, and he's getting a lot of at-bats. The hand continues to improve. All the reports from his game swings, he's taking baby steps forward from both sides of the plate." Cassavell notes that Mejia isn't likely to rejoin the Padres on their current road trip in Colorado, but he could be activated sometime next week.

Jeffers is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader with the Twins

It is quite unusual for Jeffers to be out of the lineup against a southpaw, in this case Matt Boyd, but the Tigers are also starting a lefty in game 2. Jeffers figures to be reinserted into the lineup for the second half of the twin bill while Alex Avila gets the nod behind the plate in the first game.

Gallagher isn't in Saturday's lineup against the White Sox.

Gallagher went hitless in three at-bats Friday, and he'll take a seat for Saturday's contest. Meibrys Viloria will start at catcher.

Perez isn't in Saturday's lineup against the Cardinals.

Perez reached base four times and knocked in one run Friday, but he'll retreat to the bench for the second game of the series. Sandy Leon will start behind the dish.

D'Arnaud isn't in Saturday's lineup against the Phillies.

D'Arnaud reached base twice in Friday's contest, but he'll get a breather Saturday. Tyler Flowers will start behind the plate in his absence.

Grandal went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-5 win over the Royals.

Grandal mashed a walkoff homer to give the White Sox the victory, which elevated them to a first-place tie with the Twins in the AL Central. If not for an incident in the top of the ninth inning, in which the catcher was involved, Grandal's bottom-of-the-ninth heroics would not have been required. Following a rundown, first baseman Jose Abreu threw home to nail Bubba Starling trying to score, but Grandal wasn't expecting the throw, believing the play was dead. He more than made up for his mental miscue with his fourth home run.

Perez went 3-for-5 with an RBI single in Friday's 14-2 win over the Cardinals.

All three of Perez's hits were singles, and the one he had in the sixth inning scored Carlos Santana. The 31-year-old Perez is slashing only .167/.318/.167 with two RBI and a run scored in 11 games. He will typically share catching duties with Sandy Leon.