MLB Player News

Perez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

Kevin Plawecki will handle catching duties and hit seventh against right-hander Noah Syndergaard. Perez remains the Indians' starting catcher despite slashing just .154/.241/.288 across 16 games during August. The right-handed-hitting backstop owns a .223 batting average and has 63 strikeouts in 202 at-bats against righties.

Stallings is not in Thursday's lineup against the Nationals.

Elias Diaz (head) returns behind the plate and will bat eighth. In related news, Francisco Cervelli (concussion) was released by the Pirates earlier in the day, so it is officially Stallings and Diaz's show behind the plate going forward.

Diaz (head) is starting behind the dish and hitting eighth Thursday against the Nationals.

He missed a couple games after getting hit by a bat on his catcher's mask in Monday's game, but is healthy enough to catch a full game against Washington. In related news, Francisco Cervelli (concussion) was released by the Pirates earlier in the day, so it is officially Diaz and Jacob Stalling's show behind the plate going forward.

D'Arnaud went 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and a run in a win over the Mariners on Wednesday.

The veteran's bat seems to be heating up again after a sluggish start to August. Factoring in Wednesday's production, d'Arnaud is now 8-for-23 with two doubles, two RBI, a walk and two runs over his last seven games. The multi-hit effort against the Mariners was d'Arnaud's first since Aug.14 and only his second of the month overall.

Murphy (knee) went 2-for-4 with two home runs and a walk after getting activated from the injured list Wednesday with Triple-A Las Vegas.

He went on a brief rehab assignment in the AZL before getting activated. Murphy would probably already be in the majors if he had not dealt with multiple knee injuries this year. It would not be surprising if the A's brought him up for the stretch run. In addition to being one of the best defensive catchers in the minors, Murphy is hitting .366/.441/.742 with nine home runs in 24 games at Triple-A.

Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday in the Dodgers' 2-1 win over the Blue Jays in 10 innings.

Smith got the scoring started in the fourth inning, when he took Zack Godley deep for his 12th long ball of the season. The rookie has supplied six of those home runs in the last seven games and seems to have already asserted himself as a high-end fantasy catcher despite still maintaining prospect eligibility.

Mejia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Reds.

Mejia drove a ball 380 feet over the wall in right center field for San Diego's only long ball of the game. The 23-year-old continues to wield a hot bat in August and is now slashing .404/.436/.712 with four homers this month. He has started six of the last seven games -- including a stint in left field Tuesday -- and has risen to the fifth spot in the order as the Padres place increasing value on his offensive production.

Jansen is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Jansen has started four of the past five games, going 3-for-13 with a home run and two RBI. Reese McGuire is starting behind the dish and hitting eighth in this one.

Campusano and Lancaster's Luis Castro were named co-MVPs of the California League on Wednesday.

Campusano emerged as a top prospect with High-A Lake Elsinore this season, leading the league with a .320 batting average while slugging 13 home runs and racking up 69 RBI in 388 at-bats. The 20-year-old also possesses excellent defensive skills behind the plate. He is likely a few years away from joining the big club.

Trevino is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Angels.

Jeff Mathis is starting behind the dish in place of Trevino in Wednesday's series finale. In 13 appearances since joining the Rangers, Trevino is slashing just .206/.229/.324 with one home run and a 1:10 BB:K.