MLB Player News

Some close to Indians ace Corey Kluber believe his early-season struggles were related to missing Yan Gomes, who is on the shelf with a with a sprained MCL, CBSSports.com Jon Heyman reports.

However, Kluber didn't seem to have any issues on Wednesday when he put together one of the best pitching performances of the season, striking out 18 -- the most in a game since Ben Sheets in 2004 and the most by an American League pitcher since Roger Clemens in 1998. 

Kluber is 1-5 with a 4.27 ERA over 52 2/3 innings pitched.

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips returned to the starting lineup and is batting sixth, while catcher Devin Mesoraco remained sidelined Friday night against San Francisco, per MLB.com.

Phillips suffered a sore big toe on Tuesday after striking out three times. He is hitting .311 (37 for 119) with one home run, 15 RBI and a .345 on-base percentage this season.

"He's had the 48 hours of recovery time," Price said of Phillips. "He had a lot of treatment. He's been seen by a foot specialist and all those things. We don't force our players to play. We have to make sure that they’re comfortable being on the field. Most of them, if not all of them, are slightly banged up right now anyway. It's just part of the grind of a long season."

Mesoraco hasn't been in the starting lineup as a catcher since April 11. He plated the winning run as a pinch-hitter on Tuesday. He is hitting .143 (5 for 35) with two RBI this season.

Cincinnati is an underdog (+125) at home against the Giants, per VegasInsider.com.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco expects to try and catch a bullpen session sometime next week, and the results could cause him to make a decision on whether to undergo surgery on his injured hip, MLB.com reports.

"That's kind of the time," Mesoraco said on Thursday. "We have to see if it's going to work out. It's been over a month [since catching]. If it's going to work, it's going to happen at that time. If it isn't, we'll know at that time. At this point, it's time to figure it out."

Mesoraco has functioned as a pinch-hitter and designated hitter (when possible) while dealing with a left hip impingement. He said he's felt better in recent days, but the catching attempt could lead to a final decision on possible surgery.

"I guess I'm optimistic I will be able to catch in a relatively close amount of time," Mesoraco said. "I haven't done any catching drills for 30-some days. At some point I'll probably have to get some practice, get back there and get some work in. But I think at this point I'm going to be able to catch, or I'm going to get the surgery. We're not going to keep pinch-hitting the whole year, I know that. We have these DH games, which will help. After that, if the catching goes well, which I am optimistic it will, then we'll catch. If it doesn't, then we'll make another decision."

Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp went 2 for 3 with a walk and his first double of the season on Wednesday but made his biggest impact defensively, throwing out would-be basestealers to end the second and third innings.

"I like a good challenge," Rupp said, per MLB.com. "You want guys to see what you can do. And when you throw them out and you make good throws, it makes you feel better. It kind of gives you a little adrenaline rush. But it's more than just me throwing the ball there. Aaron [Harang] gave me good pitches to throw on. Freddy [Galvis] made the tag."

Rupp has thrown out six of the 12 baserunners who have attempted to steal.

"He has a cannon for an arm," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He just has a quick release. And he's usually on target."

Rupp has yet to click in the batter's box, hitting .184/.262/.263 in 38 at-bats.

Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's contest against the Astros. It appears to just be a rest day for Martin, who started the last two games and seven of the last eight behind the plate.

Josh Thole catch Drew Hutchison and hit eighth in the batting order.

Playing in his first game of the season, Tigers catcher Bryan Holaday had quite the afternoon against the Twins on Thursday. Holaday, who was recalled over the weekend when Alex Avila went on the disabled list, recorded a career-high three RBI as he went 3 for 5 on the afternoon.

Holaday hit the second home run of his career, a two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning, and finished a triple shy of the cycle.

"When I hit it, it was about as good as I could," Holaday said, per MLive.com. "Then I saw (Eduardo) Escobar go back to the wall and I thought he was going to catch it. So I was happy when I saw it go over."

He will likely return to the bench on Friday, as James McCann has been the regular catcher since Avila's injury.

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and catcher Devin Mesoraco were both held out of the starting lineup Thursday night against San Francisco, per MLB.com.

Phillips suffered a sore big toe on Tuesday after striking out three times. He is hitting .311 (37 for 119) with one home run, 15 RBI and a .345 on-base percentage this season.

Mesoraco drove in the winning run on Tuesday, but has not been in the starting lineup as a catcher since April 11. He is hitting .143 (5 for 35) with two RBI this season.

Cincinnati is favored (-165) at home against the Giants.

The Royals gave center fielder Lorenzo Cain and catcher Salvador Perez the day off Thursday against the Royals, per MLB.com. With both players out, manager Ned Yost inserted Drew Butera behind the plate and in the eighth spot, and Jarrod Dyson in center field and in the ninth spot in the order.

Kansas City is favored (-110) against the Rangers in Arlington, per VegasInsider.com.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is not in Thursday's lineup against the Phillies. More than likely, this is just a day off for the veteran. 

After a cold start in April, McCutchen has seen his batting average rise as he's recorded hits in seven of his last eight games. 

Outfielder Gregory Polanco is back in the lineup and hitting first. First baseman Pedro Alvarez is hitting fifth. Third baseman Jung Ho Kang is hitting sixth and catcher Chris Stewart is batting ninth. 

Angels catcher Carlos Perez started for the sixth time in an eight-game span on Wednesday and went 1 for 4 at the plate, making him 7 for 22 with one home run and four RBI since joining the major-league roster.

"Any time a player plays well, you're going to earn more playing time," manager Mike Scioscia said before Wednesday's game, per MLB.com. "That's what Carlos has shown."

Chris Iannetta had a batting average below .100 at the time Perez was called up and has hit just .101/.203/.116 in 69 at-bats.

"Chris understands the start he got off to, he understands the need for us to get a little bit of production behind the plate, and he also understands how well Carlos has played when he's been out there," Scioscia said. "Chris has confidence in the way he can play, and hopefully we're going to see some signs of it when he gets his opportunity."

While Scioscia indicated that "we're going to need them both," Perez appears to be settling into a regular role while he continues to produce at the plate.