MLB Player News

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud has batted second in three of the four games since David Wright hit the disabled list, and he's 3 for 12 with two home runs and one walk in those games while batting second.

"This is what I want from him. That's why he's hitting second," manager Terry Collins said Saturday, per MLB.com. "He showed us last year he could swing the bat."

d'Arnaud stuggled initially last season and was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas in June, but he was able to make adjustments and deliver a fine offense performance after being recalled. He's continued to shine early in 2015, hitting .289/.317/.526 with two home runs and nine RBI in 38 at-bats.

"I just believe in myself," d'Arnaud said. "I'm able to make adjustments quicker and believe in my thought process at the plate and know it works."

d'Arnaud is back in the No. 2 spot in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Marlins.

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia and catcher Ryan Hanigan are out of the Red Sox's starting lineup for Sunday's game against Baltimore. 

Pedroia is hitless in his last two games with three strikeouts. He's getting a rest on Sunday. Brock Holt replaces him at second base, leading off. 

Hanigan also gets a day off. Sandy Leon replaces him behind the plate, batting ninth.

Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Brewers.

Cervelli has started each of his team's last five games but will catch a break Sunday. Chris Stewart will get the start behind the plate and bat eighth.

The Pirates are heavy favorites (-170) at home Sunday.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is serving as the team's designated hitter for Sunday's series finale against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

The Braves have mixed and matched at designated hitter during the series in Toronto, using Chris Johnson and Nick Markakis there in the team's first two days. Catcher Christian Bethancourt is also back in the lineup Sunday after sitting out the team's first two games of the series.

The Braves are underdogs (+135) against the Blue Jays Sunday.

Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos is back in the starting lineup after serving as a pinch-hitter Saturday, while catcher Alex Avila is not in the starting lineup for a second straight day.

Castellanos managed an RBI single in his only at-bat Saturday to extend his hitting streak to six games. He has hit .282/.341/.462 with one home run and four RBI in 39 at-bats.

Avila entered Saturday's blowout loss in the seventh inning to play three innings at first base, just his second career appearance at the position. He has hit .190/.414/.333 in 21 at-bats. James McCann, who is 2 for 15 after going hitless in four at-bats Saturday, is behind the plate for a second straight game.

The Tigers are favorites (-135) against the White Sox Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

Brewers right fielder Ryan Braun was slotted in the leadoff position in the team's starting lineup on Saturday, the first time in his career he's batted leadoff. 

The Brewers' lineup had other major changes on Saturday. Martin Maldonado will bat seventh and catch, in just his fourth game of 2015. Regular catcher Jonathan Lucroy replaces Adam Lind at first base. 

"Trying to do something different, getting [Braun] sparked," Roenicke said to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "He's had better at-bats, but just to get his mind off some things and maybe on something else. Then also, I think he is swinging the bat better. He's just not getting hits. Put him in a little different atmosphere. Hopefully he can get on base for us and have the other guys drive him in."

Hector Gomez gets the start at second base, batting sixth. He replaces Scooter Gennett. 

Logan Schaefer is in center field, batting eighth. It will be his first start of the season.

Catcher Devin Mesoraco is not in the Reds' lineup for Saturday's game at St. Louis. 

Mesoraco was questionable with a hip injury. Brayan Pena will start in his place, batting seventh and catching. 

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz and left fielderBen Revere were not in the team's starting lineup for Saturday's game at Washington. 

Cameron Rupp got the start at catcher, batting eighth. Darin Ruf got the call in left, batting sixth. 

Marlins catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia told reporters he doesn't agree with manager Mike Redmond's decision to start J.T. Realmuto over the last three games, according to the Palm Beach Post.

"Am I mad? Yeah I'm mad, I want to play," Saltalamacchia said. "I'm not going to hurt this team. I'm not going to be the reason that causes a distraction.

"No hard feelings whatsoever. I want to win. My job is to help the team win so whatever I can do to help is what I'm going to do."

Realmuto was promoted from Triple-A New Orleans on Monday, and is hitting .286 (2 for 7) in three games. Saltalamacchia is off to a slow start, batting .091 (2 for 22) with with one home run in seven games (six starts).

"It's six games in. Six games in is a really tough sample to go off of," Saltalamacchia said. "I've never been in this situation before so it's a little different. Come to the ballpark every day ready to play, do what I can to make the team better, be ready whenever I'm called upon."

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco is expected back at some point over the weekend against the Cardinals, according to MLB.com. Mesoraco took part in batting practice, but was not included in the lineup on Friday. He has been sidelined since Saturday with inflammation in his left hip. Manager Bryan Price told reporters he's listed as day to day, and is available to pinch-hit on Friday, per the Cincinnati Enquirer.

"He has a little bit of inflammation in there, so we have to be sensitive to that and don't want to aggravate it and set him back any further, but he's available to hit," Reds manager Bryan Price said, per MLB.com. "If we had to put him back there, we could, but we have other alternatives now with Tucker Barnhart here."