MLB Player News

Sanchez went 3-for-5 with a two-RBI double, two-run homer and three runs in Friday's 14-4 victory over the Orioles.

The rookie backstop's season line is now a jaw-dropping .403/.459/.883 following Friday's production. He got things off on the right foot with a two-RBI double in the second that plated Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury and then drove in the latter a second time with a 385-foot shot to left in the fifth that extended the Yankees' lead to 12-1. The 23-year-old now has multi-hit efforts in three of his last four games, with four homers and eight RBI over that span.

Contreras is back in the lineup Saturday against the Dodgers.

After an off-day Friday, Contreras returns behind the plate to catch Jason Hammel. The rookie is batting .298/.355/.491 against left-handers this season as the Cubs prepare to face Julio Urias, who is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA over his last four starts.

Barnhart was scratched from Friday's lineup with right hand soreness, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Ramon Cabrera will catch for starter Brandon Finnegan with Barnhart unable to go. Barnhart's status for the rest of the weekend is up in the air. The Reds do not currently have a third catcher on the 40-man roster.

Barnhart has been scratched from Friday's lineup, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

A reason for Barnhart's scratch was not immediately provided. Ramon Cabrera is now slated to catch and bat eighth against Diamondbacks right-hander Braden Shipley.

Perez is out of the lineup Friday against the Red Sox, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Drew Butera will start behind the dish and bat eighth as Perez heads to the bench. Perez has had a rough time hitting recently and owns a .174/.208/.304 line over the last 14 days, bringing his batting average down to .254 for the season.

Contreras is out of the lineup for Friday's matchup against the Dodgers.

With Contreras sitting out, the Cubs will opt to start Miguel Montero behind the dish. Contreras will likely return to the lineup Saturday when Chicago continues their series against Los Angeles.

Grandal is out of Friday's lineup against the Cubs.

The newly-acquired Carlos Ruiz will start behind the plate as Grandal sits out. Grandal owns a batting average of just .231 for the season and is just 9-for-45 over the last 14 days, so it's highly likely that he'll see much less time in the lineup moving forward, now that Ruiz is a Dodger.

McCann went 4-for-5 with a three-run homer in Thursday's win over the Twins.

McCann's third-inning blast, his 11th of the season, extended his hitting streak to four games, one shy of his season high. The catcher had tallied just five home runs and 23 RBI in 173 first-half at bats, but now has six longballs and 19 RBI in 82 at-bats since the All-Star break. McCann's .256 second-half batting average is also a strong improvement over the .208 he posted prior to the Midsummer Classic.

Maldonado is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.

Maldonado will get a night off after starting three straight games behind the plate. Manny Pina will get the start at catcher in Maldonado's place.

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN.com.

As has been the case every few days of late, d'Arnaud will open the game on the bench and Rene Rivera will get the start behind the plate. D'Arnaud went 0-for-3 Wednesday, but he has seen the ball well of late, going 11-for-29 (.379) in eight games since Aug. 12.