MLB Player News

Realmuto went 4-for-4 with a run scored and a walk in Monday's loss to the Mets.

Realmuto now has a seven-game hitting streak, with four of those games including multiple hits. This marks Realmuto's second four-hit game in the past month as he continues to establish himself as one of the best hitters for contact at the catcher position. His batting average his now up to .325, behind only Wilson Ramos among qualified catchers.

Vazquez was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Vazquez had been finding some comfort at the plate of late, going 5-for-13 with one RBI in his past five games. No matter, Ryan Hanigan (neck) has been activated from the DL, which will relegate Vazquez to the minors for the time being.

Maldonado got the start behind the plate Monday and went 1-for-3 with a solo shot in a 1-0 win over the Nationals.

The two teams combined for just seven hits all game and Maldonado's was the only one that wasn't a single. Playing time remains scarce for the Brewers' backup catcher but two of his three homers on the season have come in the last eight days, which might encourage manager Craig Counsell to put Maldonado's name on the lineup card a little more often.

Diaz (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Monday for High-A Brandenton, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

If Diaz were healthy, there's a good chance he'd be with the Major League club at the moment, as both Francisco Cervelli (hand) and Chris Stewart (knee) are on the disabled list. Instead, the team had to claim Eric Fryer off waivers to ensure positional depth. That being said, the Pirates will likely keep a close eye on the 25-year-old's rehab assignment, as he could be an option for the team following the All-Star break. He has yet to play this season, however, so a somewhat lengthy rehab assignment could be on tap.

Stewart was placed on the 15-day DL on Monday with left knee discomfort.

The Pirates had been anticipating this move, as Stewart had been held out of the starting lineup on back-to-back days. The team also went ahead and claimed Eric Fryer off waivers from St. Louis, who will be activated Monday in a corresponding move. As long as the ailment doesn't turn out to be too serious, Stewart should be back with the Pirates shortly after the All-Star break when he's first eligible.

Vazquez is out of the lineup Monday against the Rangers, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Though Vazquez is still the top option on the Red Sox's catching depth chart, it appears his grip on the gig is loosening. While he remains a strong defensive catcher, Vazquez's anemic .583 OPS has made him close to an automatic out this season. Meanwhile, backup Sandy Leon continues to thrive in a smaller sample, as Sunday's 2-for-4 showing boosted his line to .457/.525/.686 over 40 plate appearances. Leon will earn a second straight start for his efforts, and could displace Vazquez as the starter if his hot hitting continues.

Rupp (elbow) went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Sunday's win over the Royals.

He clubbed a three-run homer in the first inning off Vordano Ventura, dispelling any concerns about his sore elbow, then came around to score in the eighth on a Freddy Galvis single. Rupp now has an nine-game hitting streak going, and his eight homers leave him one shy of last year's career high.

Rupp went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's 7-2 win over the Royals.

The homer was Rupp's eighth of the season, leaving him just one short of matching his total from last year. His .831 OPS ranks third among major league catchers with at least 150 plate appearances this season. There had been some talk of playing Carlos Ruiz more, but Rupp's bat is going to keep him in the lineup most days.

Perez (thumb) will start his rehab assignment at the Arizona Rookie League on Sunday.

Perez's fractured thumb has kept him on the shelf for two months, but he'll finally get back into game action Sunday at rookie ball. He'll likely need several games to get re-acclimated to catching a full nine innings, so the Indians may not need to make a decision on him until after the All-Star break. Cleveland's current catching combination of Yan Gomes and Chris Gimenez could be a roadblock to Perez's return to the big league club as well unless they opt to carry three catchers.

Stewart, who is out of the lineup Sunday, may be a candidate for the DL due to a lower leg injury, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Stewart is dealing with both knee and ankle ailments, which have effectively cost him two straight starts. If he does end up on the DL, look for Erik Kratz to become the primary backstop, while Jacob Stallings could once again get the call from Triple-A.