MLB Player News

Rupp went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI in Friday's 10-2 loss to the D-backs.

The Phillies' backstop actually opened the scoring for the game with his two-run triple in the first, which plated Cody Asche and Travis Joseph. It was Rupp's first three-bagger of the season, and his 18th extra-base hit overall. The 27-year-old now had four multi-hit efforts in June, and has hit safely in four of the last five games.

Perez went 2-for-3 with a home run, his 12th of the season, three RBI and two runs in Friday's win over the Tigers.

Perez is on pace to challenge the 30-homer threshold this season, as well as break a couple of other personal records in the process. The 26-year-old catcher is making fantasy owners ecstatic by illustrating he's capable of bypassing the numbers of 2013-2015 - years that made him an All Star and were perfectly satisfying for most owners. It's becoming clear that we, in fact, have not yet witnesses Perez's breakout campaign, but we may be in the process of doing so in 2016.

Gomes is not in Friday's lineup against the White Sox.

He has started five of the Tribe's last six games, and has two hits over that span, with his batting average sitting at just .167. Chris Gimenez will start behind the dish and hit seventh Friday.

Barnhart is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.

This will be the second time in the last three games that Barnhart will get the day off in favor of Ramon Cabrera. The 25-year-old has struggled recently, going 0-for-14 in his last four starts. On the season, Barnhart is hitting .239 with two home runs and 10 RBI and will likely be back in the lineup for Saturday's game.

D'Arnaud (shoulder) will serve as the designated hitter Friday, then catch Saturday and Sunday for Triple-A Las Vegas before rejoining the Mets for their game Tuesday against the Royals.

D'Arnaud, out since April 25 with a strained rotator cuff, has recently progressed to catching a full game. He was able to do so earlier this week with no setbacks, putting him in line to be activated July 21. Once activated, d'Arnaud should be in the lineup nearly every day behind the plate for the Mets, whose lineup is missing several injured regulars.

Contreras was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, but he is not in the lineup against the Pirates.

Contreras is the top catching prospect in baseball and abused Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .353/.442/.593 slash line with nine home runs and four steals in 55 games. He boasts an incredible approach (32:28 K:BB) and he could also offer the Cubs some positional flexibility, given their propensity to move players around the diamond. Contreras only played catcher this year with Iowa, but he has experience playing left field, third base and first base in previous seasons. Miguel Montero and David Ross have been pretty dismal offensively this season, so there is a chance Contreras can earn a sizable role going forward, especially if he develops strong chemistry with a few of the Cubs' starting pitchers. Tim Federowicz was designated for assignment as a corresponding move.

Leon is in Thursday's lineup against Baltimore, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Leon will be making his second major league start after being called up by Boston on June 5. He made his first career start Saturday against the Twins, going 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI. With Blake Swihart (ankle) and Ryan Hanigan (neck) on the disabled list, Leon will have the chance to earn playing time moving forward if he continues to have days like he did Saturday.

Vazquez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Vazquez has started each of the last three games for the Red Sox and will be getting a day off Thursday in favor of Sandy Leon, who will be making his second start of the season. Throughout the 2016 season, Vazquez is hitting .209/.248/.299 with one home run and nine RBI while settling into the primary catching role for Boston in the last couple of weeks.

Rupp is starting at catcher and batting fifth against Toronto on Thursday, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports.

Rupp received an off day Wednesday but is back out there for the final game of the Phillies-Blue Jays series. The 27-year-old will look to break out of a mid-June slump Thursday, as he's batting 2-for-19 (.105) over his last five games.

Contreras is expected to join the Cubs on Friday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.

Contreras has never appeared in an MLB game, but he's tearing the cover off the ball at Triple-A this season, slashing .350/.439/.591 in 54 games. Per Rosenthal, the plan is for the Cubs to roster three catchers for the time being, and a corresponding roster move is yet to be revealed.