MLB Player News

Leon went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI in Boston's 9-0 win over the Dodgers on Friday.

Leon not only continued to hit -- the catcher who entered 2016 with a career .187 batting average is sitting at .374 in 107 at-bats this season -- but he also managed zero passed balls while catching knuckleballer Steven Wright. As a matter of fact, Wright never looked better, tossing the first shutout of his career and walking just one. It was a great game called by Leon, who got the start when Ryan Hanigan was scratched due to an ankle injury that eventually landed him on the disabled list, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. With Hanigan on the DL and Blake Swihart (ankle) nowhere close to returning, Leon will get the bulk of the starts in the immediate future.

Diaz has been activated by Triple-A Indianapolis.

Diaz was a reserve for the Pirates in case Francisco Cervelli was forced to miss more time, but Cervelli returned to the Pirates lineup on Friday. Therefore, Diaz will go back to Triple-A Indianapolis where he will start tonight against Toledo. The 25-year-old is hitting .267 in 60 minor league at-bats with High-A, Double-A and Triple-A.

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers.

Rene Rivera will catch for starter Noah Syndergaard as d'Arnaud sits for the second time in three days. While d'Arnaud continues to see the lion's share of the workload, he's underwhelmed at the dish since his return from the DL in late June, going 27-for-101 (.267 average) with five extra-base hits. He hit a home run Tuesday, his first since July 7 and third of the season.

Casali was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Casali will go down to Durham after the Rays picked up Bobby Wilson off waivers Thursday. It appeared as though Casali had recently lost the starting job to Luke Maile, and the Rays clearly see the 27-year-old as expendable. He could return to the team at some point later on this season, but has only posted a .168 average with seven home runs and 20 RBI on the season.

Rupp is out of the lineup Thursday against the Giants, the Philly Voice's Ryan Lawrence reports.

He will get a standard day off during Thursday's day game following Wednesday's night game. Carlos Ruiz will start behind the dish and hit fifth Thursday.

Barnhart is out of the lineup Thursday against the Cardinals, C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

After six consecutive starts behind the plate, Barnhart will take a seat for the early matchup Thursday. Ramon Cabrera will man the backstop in his stead.

Sanchez signed a minor-league contract with the Giants, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.

Sanchez posted a poor line of .201/.292/.309 over 45 games with Toronto's Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo before being released on July 28. With Buster Posey at catcher for the Giants, the chances of Sanchez making it up to The Show this season are very slim. In the meantime, he'll simply provide depth behind the plate at Triple-A Sacramento.

Grandal is not in the starting lineup for the Dodgers on Wednesday.

A.J. Ellis will get the start behind the dish for the Dodgers at Coors Field on Wednesday. Grandal is swinging a hot bat over his last 10 games, hitting .313 with three home runs and six RBI in 32 at-bats. He should be back in the lineup on Thursday as the Dodgers face Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood.

Sanchez is starting at DH and hitting eighth Wednesday against the Mets.

The Yankees have insisted that they will not buy out the remainder of Alex Rodriguez's contract, but it nonetheless seems that Sanchez could be in line for semi-regular duty at DH now that the Yankees have traded Carlos Beltran. Of course, there is also the possibility that Sanchez just received the call because the Yankees are facing lefty Steven Matz on Wednesday, and he could be sent back down with a run of righties due up next. Either way, Sanchez's catcher eligibility makes him worth a roster spot in two-catcher formats on the chance that he stays up for the rest of the season. He has the most advanced bat in the Yankees' farm system, and should hit enough to profile at any position.

D'Arnaud is not in the starting lineup for the Mets on Wednesday.

D'Arnaud will give way to catcher Rene Rivera on Wednesday. Expect d'Arnaud back in the Mets lineup on Thursday as they face Nathan Eovaldi at Yankee Stadium. On the season, d'Arnaud is hitting .250/.296/.371 with three home runs in 116 at-bats against right-handed pitchers.