MLB Player News

Yasmani Grandal led off the bottom of the 13th inning Sunday with a home run to break a scoreless game and send the Dodgers over the Diamondbacks.

Grandal entered the game as a pinch hitter in the 10th inning and stayed in to catch.

Diamondbacks reliever Evan Marshall (0-2) served up the walk-off blast.

Red Sox rookie catcher Blake Swihart is being thrown right into the fire after his recent call-up, as he was in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees with plans to keep the youngster behind the plate for the foreseeable future, per the Providence Journal. 

Manager John Farrell said that Swihart will get the bulk of the starts, with Sandy Leon taking over the backup role. 

"We want to get to Blake in the flow of things as quickly as we can and yet recognizing and being a little bit sensitive when there may be a need for a breather," Farrell said. 

Indians starter Corey Kluber hasn't looked like the pitcher that won last season's Cy Young Award. Part of the reason may be the other half of the battery.

Catcher Yan Gomes has been on the disabled list with a knee injury, and Kluber is still adjusting to work with Roberto Perez. 

"There's obviously a difference," Kluber said, per MLB.com. "Whether it be myself with Yan, or somebody that gets traded, for example, there's always a period where you've got to work to know what each other wants to do. I think that's normal for any player to go through. It's not just Roberto and myself."

"There's no secret how comfortable Klubes and Gomer were," manager Terry Francona said. "That was a pretty special relationship that you want. ... When a guy like Gomes goes down, you don't have a Gomes sitting on the bench. I think we're pretty fortunate where we are, but they're not going to have that same sync. It's impossible." 

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Grandal has started seven of the last eight games behind the plate but will cede catching duties to A.J. Eliis Sunday. Third baseman Juan Uribe is back in the lineup as expected, while Alex Guerrero is in left field for a second straight game but has been moved up to the fifth spot in the order after batting eighth Saturday. It's the first time this season Guerrero has slotted higher than sixth.

The Dodgers are favorites (-145) against the Diamondbacks Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

The Indians left catcher Roberto Perez out of Sunday's starting lineup. In his place, Brett Hayes will make his fifth start fo the season.

Hayes is starting his second game of the last three, and batting eighth in the lineup. 

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon is not in the lineup for the first time this season Sunday, while third baseman Martin Prado is receiving his second day off in his team's matchup with the Phillies.

Gordon has led off all season, while Prado has been the team's No. 2 hitter for the last games with Christian Yelich out. With the pair on the bench. left fielder Ichiro Suzuki will lead off against the Phillies, while shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria will bat second.

The Marlins are also giving catcher J.T. Realmuto a break after starting the team's last eight games. Jhonatan Solano will draw the start behind the plate in his place.

The Marlins are heavy favorites (-185) Sunday.

Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

The Reds are sending a tough righty to the mound in the form of Johnny Cueto, but the Braves will allow lefty-swinging Pierzynski, who has hit .377/.400/.604 in 53 at-bats and is the only Atlanta player with an OPS north of .850, a day of rest. Christian Bethancourt will draw the start behind the plate and bat seventh.

The Braves are home underdogs (+134) Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

Reds outfielders Billy Hamilton and Marlon Byrd are joining catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) on the bench for Sunday's game against the Braves.

Hamilton is getting a break after making 11 straight starts out of the leadoff spot, while Byrd has seen 11 straight starts in left field. It's just a regular day off for both players, who will get a two-day break due to the team's scheduled off-day Monday, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Both Hamilton and Byrd are available if needed Sunday. With the pair out, Skip Schumaker will lead off and play left field, while Brennan Boesch will bat seventh and play center field.

Mesoraco hasn't appeared in the starting lineup since the first week of the season, as he's continued to rehab from a left hip impingement while remaining on the active roster.

The Reds are road favorites (-142) in Atlanta with Johnny Cueto on the mound.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco has been limited to four pinch hitting appearances since he suffered a hip inpingement on April 12. 

"This is a guy who would be hitting fourth right now if he were healthy enough to be behind the plate. He's a middle-of-the-order guy," manager Bryan Price said, per Cincinnati.com. 

Mesoraco may get consistent playing time this week, as the Reds are scheduled to play an interleague series on the road against the White Sox. That means their lineup will include a designated hitter. 

The Mets gave several regulars a rest on Saturday. 

Right fielder Curtis Granderson, catcher Kevin Plawecki and shortstop Wilmer Flores are all out of the starting lineup. 

John Mayberry makes his third start of the year in right, batting leadoff. Ruben Tejada makes his fourth start at short, batting seventh. Luke Recker will catch and bat eighth.