MLB Player News

Contreras (hamstring) was seen doing agility drills on the field Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

The young backstop continues to slowly work his way back from a hamstring strain that has kept him on the shelf since Aug. 9. Contreras should start to ramp up his activity in the next week, and while he still has a ways to go in his recovery, he's headed in the right direction. Barring any setbacks, Contreras could be back with the Cubs sometime in mid-September. In the meantime, Alex Avila and Rene Rivera will split duties behind the dish.

Vazquez is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Indians, Evan Drellich of CSN New England reports.

Vazquez has recorded six hits over his last three starts, but that won't be enough to keep him in the starting nine Tuesday, as Sandy Leon picks up his third nod behind the plate in four games. It's been difficult to predict how the Red Sox's timeshare behind the plate will shake out from week to week, but things have generally favored Vazquez, who is slashing a career-best .290/.331/.730 for the season in addition to providing quality defense.

Gallagher was optioned back to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

With Salvador Perez being activated from the disabled list, Gallagher is returning to Triple-A and wrapping up his first career stint in the majors. In his limited time, Gallagher went 5-for-13 with a home run and five runs batted in over five games.

Perez (oblique) was reinstated from the 10-day DL prior to Tuesday's game against the Rockies.

He only ended up missing 16 games with the intercostal strain, which is pretty impressive for a catcher. Perez was in the midst of his best offensive season since 2013, hitting .278/.308/.510 with 21 home runs in 391 plate appearances. Look for him to play almost every day as long as the Royals remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Mejia, 21, is batting .307/.358/.509 with 13 home runs, 49 RBI and seven steals through 84 games at Double-A Akron.

Mejia has had two short stints on the disabled list in 2017, but otherwise it has been another successful season for arguably the top catching prospect in baseball. Yan Gomes has been disappointing with the bat this season, but he is under contract through 2019, so the Indians may look at other ways to get Mejia in the starting lineup next season.

Jansen attributes his breakout campaign in the farm system to a new approach at the plate, and better vision since getting eye glasses in the offseason, Kristina Rutherford of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Jansen began 2017 at High-A Dunedin, but as September nears, the 22-year-old sits one step away from the big leagues. The backstop suggested his current campaign is not a flash in the pan, as tangible changes have made a positive impact that can last. "The last two years I was trying to be something I'm not," he said. Jansen's new approach has propelled him to a .341/.418/.516 slash line over 95 minor-league games this season.

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks.

D'Arnaud will get the day off after starting five of the last six games at catcher. Kevin Plawecki will take over behind the dish for him, batting eighth.

Garver will start at first base and bat seventh in the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the White Sox, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The Twins have a couple openings in their lineup following the recent placements of Robbie Grossman (thumb) and Miguel Sano (shin) on the disabled list, and it looks as though Garver may receive the first crack at filling one of the voids. Garver, who posted a .928 OPS at Triple-A Rochester this season prior to being called up Friday, will receive his second straight start at first base while Joe Mauer assumes DH duties.

Narvaez will start at catcher and bat eighth in the first game of the White Sox's doubleheader Monday against the Twins, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.

The White Sox's timeshare behind the plate has swung in favor of Narvaez lately, with the backstop picking up his fifth start in six games for the front end of the twin bill. Kevan Smith will likely catch the nightcap Monday, but Narvaez looks like he'll dominate the playing time at the position while he keeps getting on base -- he owns a .417 OBP in the second half.

Hedges is out of Sunday's lineup against the Nationals.

He has started the last four games but will take a seat for the matinee prior to Monday's off day. Hector Sanchez starts behind the dish and will hit seventh.