MLB Player News

Red Sox manager John Farrell has been asking his players, speficially Xander Bogaerts, Blake Swihart and Sandy Leon, to drop down more bunts this season, according to MLB.com.

"We've placed a greater emphasis on it in spring training," said Farrell. "Maybe guys that haven't done it in their Minor League career, guys that dominate the Minor Leagues [but are] going to come up and hit in the bottom third of our order ... you want to allow them to grow as Major League players, but to contribute to a rally by putting down a sacrifice bunt, there's a lot of benefit that goes to the individual."

Boston has already dropped down 10 sacrifices this season in 36 games after only getting 20 down last season. 

"You go back to the game situation," said Farrell. "Did we anticipate an offense that would be more consistent than what we've shown? Yes, and we'll realize that in time. But where we are and what the game is suggesting and presenting to us, we've got to be equipped to handle that, and we've asked guys in those spots to lay a bunt down."

Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki launched his second home run of the season in Saturday's 14-1 pounding of the Brewers. The solo home run came in the seventh inning with the team already way ahead. 

Overall, Plawecki had a good night at the plate. He went 1 for 3 with the home run, two RBI, a walk and two runs scored. The big game was needed for the Mets' young backstop, as he came into Saturday's game with just one hit over his previous 12 at-bats.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly is resting a number of regulars on Saturday against the Rockies. Included in that group is right fielder Andre Ethier and catcher Yasmani Grandal.

Ethier has started 17 of the last 19 games in right field for the Dodgers, and he's been hot at the plate lately. Over his last 10 games, Ethier is hitting .343 with a home run and five RBI. Scott Van Slyke is making the start in right field on Saturday.

Grandal meanwhile has started five straight games behind the plate, so Mattingly will give his legs a rest. A.J. Ellis will catch Zack Greinke against the Rockies. 

"A.J. hasn't been playing a whole lot lately," Mattingly said to MLB.com. "I'm trying to get him in there against left-handers as much as I can. I never worry about A.J. as a [good] teammate. I just want to make sure he doesn't feel slighted. He'll be a bigger part of the mix in the next section of games, when we have day after night, and travel."

The Giants have optioned catcher Hector Sanchez to Triple-A Sacramento to make room on the roster for Hunter Pence.

Sanchez has not started a game since mid-April. He departs with a slash line of .194/.194/.258.

A hip ailment continues to plague Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco, who is not in the lineup Saturday against San Francisco.

Mesoraco has been used sparingly recently with surgery an option if the pain in his hip persists. He has just five hits all season as his slash line has suffered. It is currently a very weak .135/.216/.238.

Indians pitcher T.J. House (shoulder) and catcher Yan Gomes (knee) eached played in a Class-A rehab game on Friday.

House was the starting pitcher and threw three innings, allowing one hit while fanning five.

Gomes started behind the plate had had two at-bats, singling twice.

House was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 1 with with inflammation in his left shoulder.

Gomes went on the 15-day DL April 12 due to a right knee sprain.

With his absence due to a fractured finger approaching a month, there is finally some encouraging news regarding Mets starting catcher Travis d'Arnaud. General manager Sandy Alderson has stated that he could start hitting next Monday if his x-rays prove he's ready, ESPN has reported.

d'Arnaud has been out since April 19. He will own a slash line of .317/.356/.537 upon his return, but a long rehab stint is expected.

The Royals are back to full strength on Friday as center fielder Lorenzo Cain and catcher Salvador Perez are back in the starting lineup against the Yankees. Both regulars were rested on Thursday in preparation for the big three-game set. 

Cain is in his usual No. 3 spot in the order, while Perez bats seventh for manager Ned Yost.

Mets rookie Johnny Monell will make his first start of the season, as he'll be the starting catcher and bat seventh on Friday against the Brewers.

Monell was called up from Triple-A on May 5 and has been used as a pinch-hitter and late-inning defensive replacement. So far he has one hit (a two-run double) in his first five at-bats. He is starting in place of Kevin Plawecki who has been struggling at the plate.

Monell was hitting well in Triple-A this season, batting .397 in 17 games for Las Vegas. 

The Reds will be play another series in an American League ballpark next week when they take on the Royals in Kansas City. This will allow slugger Devin Mesoraco to be the designated hitter, as he continues to recover from a hip impingment. Mesoraco, who caught 109 games for the Reds in 2014, hasn't been behind the plate since April 12. 

Mesoraco is expected to test the hip by catching shortly after the series with the Royals, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. While he is hoping to wait until after the season to have surgery, if the pain intensifies, he may opt to have the surgery mid-season. Heyman notes that the recovery time from this type of surgery is usually around four months, which would essentially end his season.