MLB Player News
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Elias Diaz C | KC
Rockies' Elias Diaz: Activated, serving as DH on Sunday
The Rockies reinstated Diaz (calf) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He'll serve as the Rockies' designated hitter and will bat fifth in Sunday's series finale versus the White Sox, according to Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette.
Colorado designated infielder Elehuris Montero for assignment to clear room on the active roster for Diaz, who returns to action after missing just under three weeks with a left calf strain. Though he'll operate as the Rockies' DH in his first game back, Diaz should soon settle back into primary duties at catcher, leaving fewer opportunities to go around for Jacob Stallings and Hunter Goodman.
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Cal Raleigh C | SEA
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Records fourth steal in loss
Raleigh went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in a loss to the Twins on Saturday.
Raleigh is much more renowned for his power than his speed, but he's now up to a career-high four stolen bases with Saturday's swipe. The slugging backstop has reached safely in seven straight games, a stretch during which he owns a .429 on-base percentage thanks in large part to a 25.0 percent walk rate.
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Nick Fortes C | TB
Marlins' Nick Fortes: Bowing out of starting nine
Fortes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
On the bench for the fourth time in six games, Fortes' standing atop the depth chart at catcher could be on shaky ground. Fortes looked to have gained some job security after the Marlins pushed Christian Bethancourt off their 40-man roster earlier this month, but Ali Sanchez has impressed with a .353 on-base percentage since getting called up from Triple-A Jacksonville on June 21. Sanchez will get another turn behind the plate Sunday at Fortes' expense.
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Logan O'Hoppe C | LAA
Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Slugs another clutch home run
O'Hoppe went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning win against Detroit.
One day after belting a decisive three-run homer in the eighth inning, O'Hoppe tormented the Tigers again with a game-tying solo blast in the eighth frame. The budding star ranks fifth among MLB backstops with 12 long balls on the campaign while slashing a strong .273/.325/.478. O'Hoppe has knocked in at least one run in five of his past six contests and has collected seven total RBI during that span.
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
Pirates' Yasmani Grandal: Receiving rest day
Grandal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
After starting behind the plate in five of the past six games, Grandal will get a breather in the series finale in Atlanta. The Pirates brought back Joey Bart (thumb) from the 10-day injured list Sunday and will put him to work right away, as he'll fill in at catcher while Grandal rests.
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Jason Delay C | BOS
Pirates' Jason Delay: Heading back to Triple-A
The Pirates optioned Delay to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
Delay will head back to the minors as the Pirates clear room on the 26-man active roster for fellow catcher Joey Bart (thumb), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. During his two-week stay with the Pirates, Delay went 3-for-12 with three doubles, two walks, five RBI and one run.
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Joey Bart C | PIT
Pirates' Joey Bart: Returning from IL, starting Sunday
The Pirates reinstated Bart (thumb) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He'll start at catcher and bat seventh in the Pirates' series finale in Atlanta.
Top backstop Yasmani Grandal will take a seat Sunday while the Pirates clear the way for Bart to play in his first game for the big club since May 26. Bart missed more than a month while recovering from a left thumb sprain but proved his health during a recent six-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis, going 6-for-17 with a double and three walks.
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Ben Rortvedt C | NYM
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Getting afternoon off
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Alex Jackson will draw the start behind the plate while Rortvedt hits the bench for the series finale. Rortvedt caught all nine innings of Saturday's 8-1 loss, going hitless in three at-bats.
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Getting afternoon off
Wong is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Wong will get the afternoon off after he started behind the plate both of the past two days, going 2-for-8 with an RBI between those contests. Reese McGuire will draw the start at catcher in the series finale.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Collects three hits, three RBI
Smith went 3-for-6 with a double, three RBI and a run scored in Saturday's win over the Giants.
Smith tied the game at five runs apiece with an infield single in the fifth and later added a two-run double in the 11th to put the Dodgers on top 9-7, marking his first multi-hit effort since June 11 against the Rangers. Despite his recent struggles at the plate, the catcher has still managed to post eight RBI over his last nine games and is now up to 50 RBI on the season. However, he's also struck out twice in three of his last five contests.