MLB Player News

Mesoraco is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Cubs.

After starting three straight, Mesoraco will be given the day off for the afternoon contest. April has been a struggle for the Reds' primary backstop, as Mesoraco has slashed just .143/.234/.167 over the season's first 47 plate appearances. He'll give way to Tucker Barnhart on Sunday.

Gomes is out of the lineup Sunday against the Tigers, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.

Fresh off a monstrous 3-for-5 performance in Saturday's win in which he homered, doubled, and drove in five runs, Gomes will get a well-deserved day off. He'll be replaced by Carlos Perez behind the plate.

Hedges was placed on the 7-day, minor league DL on Saturday due to a hand contusion, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

After Christian Bethancourt won the backup catching gig to Derek Norris this spring, Hedges was assigned to Triple-A El Paso, where he's spent the entirety of the season. Prior to the injury, Hedges put together a .333/.385/.583 line with two homers, nine RBI, and seven runs in 36 at-bats.

Realmuto is not in Saturday's lineup against the Giants, the Miami Herald's Andre Fernandez reports.

He has started four of the last five games, and will get the day off again Saturday with Jose Fernandez on the mound. Jeff Mathis will start at catcher and hit eighth Saturday against Jake Peavy and the Giants.

Grandal is out of the lineup Saturday, the Los Angeles Times' Andy McCullough reports.

He is 4-for-8 over his last three games, with three walks also mixed in over that span, but after catching three straight games, the Dodgers will turn to A.J. Ellis behind the dish.

McCann (ankle) took batting practice and ran the bases on Friday and had no aftereffects, reports the Detroit Free Press.

McCann was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 12 after spraining his ankle in a game against the Pirates. He will likely be sent on a minor-league rehab assignment as early as this weekend and is eligible to return to the big club Wednesday. The key consideration will not be McCann's bat, but his ability to catch a full nine innings. He has already progressed to the point where he can throw from his knees to both first and second.

McCann (ankle) was able to play long toss Thursday, MLB.com's Jason Beck reports.

Thursday's activity represents a step forward in McCann's recovery from a sprained ankle. While things are moving in the right direction for him, he still needs to hit and run -- and possibly play in a rehab game or two -- before rejoining the big club.

Bethancourt is starting at catcher and batting sixth Thursday against the Pirates.

Derek Norris is in the midst of a modest four-game hit streak, but Bethancourt will assume the catching duties in his place Thursday. He hasn't had many opportunities to play so far this season, but he does have a double and an RBI to his name in those limited appearances.

Murphy has been on the disabled list at Triple-A Albuquerque with a strained left oblique to start the season.

Had Murphy been healthy, he could have served as a fill-in option for Nick Hundley, who is currently on MLB's 7-day DL with a concussion. However, Hundley will probably come off the DL before Murphy, meaning Murphy will get back in the swing of things at Triple-A and attempt to earn a call-up in May or June.

After the game, Thole took responsibility for Wednesday's walk-off loss to the Orioles that ended on a passed ball in extra innings, MLB.com reports.

The passed ball came with Rule 5 pick Joe Biagini on the mound for Toronto. He went out of his way to protect the young reliever by taking responsibility for getting crossed up. It was a frustrating end to an otherwise solid game from the backup catcher, who only plays when R.A. Dickey gets the start.