MLB Player News

Stallings will start at catcher and bat ninth Sunday against the Mets.

He'll be behind the plate for the fourth time in six games with manager Clint Hurdle opting for more of a timeshare at catcher lately in light of Elias Diaz's second-half struggles. Stallings has only marginally outperformed Diaz on the offensive end since the All-Star break and boasts a less impressive track record at the big-league level, so it's probably too early to anoint Stallings as Option 1A in the timeshare.

Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.

Manager Clint Hurdle had settled into a pattern of alternating the catching starts between Diaz and Jacob Stallings over the past week, but Diaz will now sit for consecutive days to wrap up the series in New York. The downturn in playing time is likely a reaction to Diaz's 5-for-38 start to the second half, which has resulted in his season-long batting average dropping from .274 to .249.

Narvaez went 4-for-5 with two runs scored in a win over Detroit on Saturday.

Narvaez was unable to rack up any RBI as all four of his hits were singles, and he never batted with a runner in scoring position. The 27-year-old is enjoying a productive season in which he's slashing .298/.369/.483 with 16 home runs in 90 games.

Nola went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBI, a double and a triple in Saturday's 8-1 win over the Tigers.

Nola delivered an extra-base hit with two runners on base twice Saturday to record his second three-RBI performance of the season. The 29-year-old has started six of the last eight games and is 9-for-27 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and six RBI in that stretch. Nola could continue to see increased opportunities while Dee Gordon (quadriceps) remains on the injured list.

Perez was optioned to Triple-A Durham following Saturday's loss to Toronto, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Perez joined the Rays prior to Friday's contest but did not see the field during his two-day stay in the majors. The Rays will likely bring up a reliever Sunday to bolster their bullpen depth.

D'Arnaud went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer Saturday in a 10-9 defeat to the Blue Jays.

D'Arnaud connected for a home run off Ryan Borucki to increase the Tampa Bay lead to 6-1 in the second inning. The 30-year-old backstop did not have any homers at the end of May but has now recorded 12 round-trippers in 34 games in June and July and has driven in 36 of his 40 RBI since June 1.

Gomes went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in a 9-3 loss to the Dodgers on Saturday.

Gomes connected in the seventh inning off Joe Kelly to give Washington their third run. It was Gomes' second homer in his last two games, but he still holds a disappointing .213/.205/.325 slash line over 197 at-bats.

Smith went 3-for-3 with a solo homer, two doubles and six RBI in a 9-3 win over the Nationals on Saturday.

Smith connected for his fourth homer off Joe Ross in the third inning, hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and mashed two-run doubles in the sixth and seventh innings to lead the Dodgers. It was his first start since being recalled and named primary catcher. Over the full season, the 24-year-old now holds a .345/.394/.862 slash line in just 29 at-bats.

Grandal is not in Saturday's lineup against the Cubs.

Grandal has started the past four games, going 4-for-13 with three RBI and a 3:2 BB:K during that stretch. Manny Pina is starting behind the dish and hitting seventh in this one.

Diaz is not in the lineup Saturday against the Mets.

Diaz heads to the bench as he continues to split time over the past week with Jacob Stallings, who is starting at catcher Saturday and batting eighth. Diaz has been in a slump in the 13 games since the All-Star break, recording a .154 on-base percentage with nine strikeouts and one extra-base hit.