MLB Player News

Vazquez is not in the lineup Monday against the Nationals, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Vazquez will sit in favor of Sandy Leon for the second time in three games. Leon's .261/.303/.423 season slash line easily outpaces Vazquez's .217/.255/.308 mark, and he's 8-for-17 over his last six games, so there's a possibility that Vazquez's starting job could be under threat.

Sanchez (groin) remains on pace to receive clearance to return from the disabled list in about two or three weeks, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday the team would likely wait until after the All-Star break before activating the backstop, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. "It's going well," Boone said of Sanchez's rehab. "I was in the weight room with him while he was on the bike doing his conditioning and stuff, and I knew he threw [Saturday]. When he's running -- I don't know what the plan is yet for him as far as that. Hopefully [we will get him back] around that All-Star break, give or take. That's the timetable it's looking like for him."

If Sanchez meets the short end of the projected recovery timetable he received after being diagnosed with the Grade 1 right groin strain, he would theoretically be ready to go the weekend heading into the break, but Boone intimated that it's more likely the Yankees would err on the side of caution and let the catcher pick up some extra runs. With 14 home runs and 28 extra-base hits through 265 plate appearances, Sanchez has been one of the top power-hitting catchers this season, but his .190 average and .291 on-base percentage are well below his respective .260 and .337 career marks.

Barnes went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Sunday's victory over the Rockies.

Barnes made his third start over the Dodgers' last four contests. Two of those games have come against southpaws, and Sunday's was the result of Yasmani Grandal sitting out a day game following a night game. The catching situation in Los Angeles appears to be that of a traditional platoon, but neither catcher is batting above .230, so Barnes could certainly earn more playing time if his bat heats up.

Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Red Sox for his first big-league hit.

Higashioka joined in the Yankees' home run parade and recorded his first major-league home run against David Price. He was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the wake of Gary Sanchez (groin) being placed on the disabled list and is 1-for-7 in limited playing time.

Diaz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI Sunday against the Padres.

Diaz has gotten consistent playing time since Francisco Cervelli landed on the disabled list (concussion) and has been productive. In his time as the primary backstop, Diaz has gone 9-for-32 with a home run, six RBI and six runs scored. Cervelli has resumed workouts, so Diaz's time as a full-time player may be coming to an end, though that could change if Cervelli is dealt prior to the trade deadline.

Contreras went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI in Sunday's win over the Twins.

Contreras batted seventh in this one, which is more of a reflection of the depth of Chicago's lineup than his performance to date, as the young catcher now has a solid .275 average and .805 OPS on the season. Contreras should continue to be one of the top options at his position in all fantasy formats.

Garver went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBI in Sunday's 11-10 loss to the Cubs.

Garver had been held without a home run since April 28. He hit .288 (15-for-52) with three doubles in June but somehow failed to record an RBI for the month. Garver is slashing .262/.329/.376 in 149 at-bats this season.

Realmuto went 2-for-4 with a two strikeouts in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Mets.

Realmuto was the only Marlin to manage multiple hits on the afternoon, as Miami's offense really couldn't find a groove Sunday. The 27-year-old backstop is now batting .309 on the year with 32 extra-base hits and 35 RBI. Even in a relatively weak Marlins lineup, Realmuto remains one of the league's best fantasy catchers.

Grandal is out of the lineup Sunday against the Rockies.

With a 4-for-35 mark at the plate over his last 12 appearances, Grandal will head to the bench for the third time in four games. Backup Austin Barnes has largely struggled this season with a .214/.340/.270 line across 150 plate appearances, so he'll probably need to string together several quality performances in a row before supplanting Grandal as the Dodgers' top option behind the plate.

Mesoraco is out of the lineup Sunday against the Marlins, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

After three consecutive starts behind the plate, Mesoraco will be relieved by Kevin Plawecki, who is batting seventh in the order.