MLB Player News

Royals catcher Salvador Perez hit a solo home run in Friday's win over Toronto. 

Perez homered for the second straight game and the 15th time this season. He went 2 for 4 with two runs scored. He has four RBI in the last three games.

Perez also extended his hitting streak to six straight games. 

Royals catcher Salvador Perez had one hit on Thursday, but it was good for his 14th home run of the season. Perez went 1 for 4 in the 8-3 win over the Rays, as he drilled a two-run blast in the sixth inning.

Perez has homered three times over his last 10 games, but he's batting just .200 with eight strikeouts compared to one walk over that stretch.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal was held out of Wednesday's lineup against the Phillies, reports MLB Lineups.

Grandal was replaced at catcher by A.J. Ellis, who will hit eighth. Grandal is hitting .317 with six home runs and 12 RBI in his last 13 games.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal went 2 for 3 with a walk in Tuesday's loss to Philadelphia. 

Grandal had his fourth multi-hit game in the last seven. He also hit a home run for the second straight day, giving him 14 on the year. Grandal has five RBI in the last two games. 

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud still needs to use a brace for his injured elbow, reports ESPNNewYork.com. d'Arnaud has been sidelined since June 20 due to a sprained elbow.

Since it was unlikely Royals catcher Salvador Perez was going to catch both games of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rays after Monday's game was rained out, manager Ned Yost made the decision to rest his starting catcher during the first game of the doubleheader.

Drew Butera, who also started Sunday for Kansas City, was behind the plate for the doubleheader opener.

Perez has started behind the plate in 71 of the Royals' 80 games. Unfortunately, Perez has been mired in an offensive slump for a few weeks, batting .164 in his last 16 games.

Mets backup catcher Johnny Monell had two RBI in Monday's win over San Francisco. Monell doubled his season RBI total, with his first runs batted in since May 10. 

Monell hit his first double since May 10 and went 1 for 4, hitting in his third straight game. 

The National League All Star reserves and pitchers were announced on Monday evening, and there was no room for the reigning National League MVP.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was not selected for the All Star team, although he's one of five candidates to take the final spot on the roster in the Final Vote. 

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant made the team as an injury replacement for the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton. Bryant is one of two rookies on the team, along with Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson. 

The Pirates sent two starting pitchers to the All Star team for the first time since 1960. MLB wins leader Gerrit Cole and fellow Pittsburgh starter A.J. Burnett will both be making their first appearance. 

National League reserves are:

Catchers: Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers; Yadier Molina, Cardinals
First basemen: Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers; Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Second basemen: DJ LeMahieu, Rockies; Joe Panik, Giants
Third basemen: Nolan Arenado, Rockies; Kris Bryant, Cubs
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, Giants
Outfielders: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates; Joc Pederson, Dodgers; A.J. Pollock, Diamondbacks; Justin Upton, Padres

National League pitchers are:

Madison Bumgarner, Giants; A.J. Burnett, Pirates; Aroldis Chapman, Reds; RHP: Gerrit Cole, Pirates; Jacob deGrom, Mets; Zack Greinke, Dodgers; Mark Melancon, Pirates; Shelby Miller, Braves; Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies; Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers; Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals; Max Scherzer, Nationals; Michael Wacha, Cardinals

The five candidates for the Final Vote are:

Johnny Cueto, Reds; Jeurys Familia, Mets; Carlos Martinez, Cardinals; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies

Tigers catcher James McCann is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game. McCann has started 49 games and five of the last seven. 

Replacing McCann behind the plate is Alex Avila, who started at first the last two games. Avila will get his 22nd start at catcher this season. 

Tigers catcher James McCann drew back-to-back starts Saturday and Sunday against the Blue Jays after Alex Avila started in his first game off the disabled list Friday. Avila started at first base the last two games after Miguel Cabrera went on the disabled list.

McCann went 1 for 4 with a triple, one RBI and one strikeout Saturday before going 2 for 3 with one run, one RBI and one walk Sunday. 

He has now hit safely in five straight games, batting .476 (10 for 21) with one double, one triple, two home runs, five RBI, five runs, one walk and three strikeouts.