MLB Player News

Garver started at catcher and batted leadoff in Monday's loss to Toronto. He went 0-for-4 after starting the season 11-for-19 with three home runs in his previous six games.

Garver became just the third catcher in Twins history to bat leadoff and the first since Butch Wynegar on Aug. 23, 1980. Garver's hot start at the plate looks set to win him more playing time. However, his move to the leadoff role likely says less about him as a hitter and more about how manager Rocco Baldelli will likely disregard traditional notions about the leadoff role and batting order.

Bart exited Monday's minor-league game after being struck by a pitch near his wrist, play-by-play announcer for the San Jose Giants, Joe Ritzo, reports.

Bart looked to get hit near his wrist and was clearly in pain immediately after, although the extent of the damage is not yet known. He'll be considered day-to-day and is likely headed for X-rays.

Contreras went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and three RBI in Monday's 7-2 win over the Marlins.

Contreras has been on fire to begin the season, as he now has six home runs, 12 RBI and a 1.300 OPS through 15 games. The 26-year-old catcher had just 10 home runs and 54 RBI in a down 2018 campaign, and he seems poised to easily surpass those numbers in 2019 if he stays healthy.

Caratini underwent successful surgery on his fractured left hamate bone Monday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Caratini suffered the injury during Thursday's game against the Pirates and is expected to miss the next 4-to-6 weeks. Taylor Davis will serve as the Cubs' backup catcher in the meantime.

Grandal is not in the lineup Monday against the Cardinals.

Grandal has been locked in at the plate recently, going 10-for-20 with a trio of homers, six RBI and a 4:2 BB:K in his last six contests (all starts). Manny Pina will check in behind the dish in place of Grandal for Monday's series opener.

Casali will start at catcher and serve as the Reds' leadoff hitter in Monday's game against the Dodgers.

With a .305 on-base percentage and zero career steals to his name, Casali is an out-of-the-box choice at the top of the lineup. Casali's usage as the leadoff hitter is probably an indictment of the Reds' lack of appealing right-handed hitters more than anything, but he'll nonetheless try to spark the Cincinnati offense as the Dodgers counter with ace southpaw Clayton Kershaw. Casali will likely head back to the bench Tuesday, when top catcher Tucker Barnhart should return to the lineup after a rest day.

Barnhart is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers.

Barnhart had started behind the plate in both of the past two days, so he'll just be receiving a breather in the series opener. Curt Casali will get the nod at catcher and serve as the Reds' leadoff hitter.

Vazquez will start at second base and will hit ninth Monday against the Orioles, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Vazquez had initially been listed as the Red Sox's starting backstop, but manager Alex Cora must have had second thoughts about using the 28-year-old behind the dish for a fourth straight day in a game set to begin at 11:05 a.m. EDT. Rather than getting a rest day in the series finale, Vazquez will surprisingly be used as the starter at the keystone, even with utility infielder Eduardo Nunez available for the contest. Vazquez logged two innings at third base in 2017 and 2018 but otherwise hasn't seen any action in the infield during his time in the majors. His last appearance at second base in affiliated ball came in 2010, when he was playing at Low-A.

Hedges is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Hedges returns to the bench after starting the last three games and going 1-for-11 with a home run and three RBI. Francisco Mejia will start behind the plate and bat sixth for the Friars in the series finale.

Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Indians.

Maldonado will head to the bench after producing just one hit in 19 at-bats over his last seven games. Though he's sitting on a measly .532 OPS for the season, Maldonado isn't in danger of losing his spot atop the depth chart, thanks to his elite defense.