MLB Player News

Grandal is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Grandal will get the day off after starting three of the last four games behind the dish for the Dodgers, going 2-for-11 with a homer over that stretch. In his place, Austin Barnes will start at catcher and bat sixth.

Perez (jaw) is in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.

Perez was removed from Friday's game after taking a foul tip to his face behind the plate, but he is apparently no worse for wear Saturday and will start as he regularly does. He will hit fifth against White Sox starter Dylan Covey.

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Nationals.

D'Arnaud has been on fire of late, hitting three home runs and driving in seven over his last three games, but he is just 4-for-16 with six strikeouts in his career against Saturday's opposing starter Stephen Strasburg, so he will be held out in favor of Kevin Plawecki.

McCann is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Twins.

As usual, McCann will get Saturday off with the Indians playing a day game following a night game. In his place, Bryan Holaday is batting sixth and starting behind the dish.

Maldonado is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Astros, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register.

Maldonado will get just his second day off this month with the Angels playing an early-afternoon affair following Friday's night game. Juan Graterol will get the start behind the plate in Maldonado's place.

Perez was removed from Friday's game for precautionary reasons after he took a foul tip in the jaw while catching, Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City reports.

Perez was 2-for-3 at the time, and with a 6-2 lead, it probably seemed safe to put in Drew Butera for the rest of the game. Unfortunately, the Royals promptly gave up five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning after Perez was taken out. Expect Perez back in the lineup at some point this weekend, but consider him day-to-day for now.

D'Arnaud homered twice and drove in four runs in a 2-for-4 game Friday against the Nationals.

This marks the second time d'Arnaud has launched two homers in 2017, and remarkably enough, both came against the Nationals. He now has 15 home runs, good for a career high. The catcher's batting line sits at .245/.292/.442 as his power numbers have been the brightest spot of an otherwise mediocre season.

Gomes is out of the lineup Friday against the Mariners.

Friday will mark the fourth time over the last five games that Gomes has been withheld from the starting lineup. Since the start of September, Gomes has appeared in just 10 of Cleveland's 20 games. Roberto Perez will draw another start behind the dish as Gomes returns to the bench.

Contreras is not in the lineup against the Brewers on Friday.

Contreras receives a standard day off following Thursday's start, going 0-for-4 at the plate during the Cubs' victory. He also took a foul ball off the right knee during the series opener, which caused him to limp around in pain for a short period of time. Although he remained in the game, manager Joe Maddon is likely giving Contreras the night off partially due to this happenstance. In his place, Alex Avila will set up at catcher and bat fifth in the order.

The Reds signed Barnhart to a four-year, $16 million extension Friday with a $7.5 million club option in 2022 ($500,000 buyout), Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

He also received a $1.75 million signing bonus. Barnhart's chief value rests outside the fantasy realm, as he's thrown out 44 percent of the runners trying to steal a base on him this year. That's the best percentage in the National League and the second-highest in the majors, per Sheldon. He's been a valuable backup to talented but injury-prone Devin Mesoraco, and Barnhart now lines up to be in the Reds' plans, in some form, for the next few years.