MLB Player News
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Bo Naylor C | CLE
Guardians' Bo Naylor: Sitting against righty
Naylor is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.
The lefty-hitting Naylor typically starts against right-handed pitchers like the Cubs' Jameson Taillon, but Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt will hold out his top backstop for the series finale. Naylor's absence from the lineup may be explained in part by his recent rough patch at the plate; he's slashing just .194/.194/.484 in 11 games since the beginning of August. In spite of his struggles, Naylor's spot atop the depth chart still looks to be fairly secure.
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Carson Kelly C | TEX
Rangers' Carson Kelly: Fourth start in five games
Kelly will start at catcher and bat seventh in Wednesday's game versus the Red Sox.
Kelly will get his second straight start and fourth start over the last five games after beginning his Rangers career by going 7-for-21 with a home run. Jonah Heim remains the favorite to see the bulk of the starts at catcher for Texas over the remainder of the season, but the Rangers are riding the hot hand for now.
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Jonah Heim C | TEX
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Losing playing time to Kelly
Heim is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Boston.
Heim has now been on the bench for two straight games and in four of the last five contests in favor of Carson Kelly. It's unlikely there's a changing of the guard at catcher, but Kelly looks set to play more than former No. 2 backstop Andrew Knizner did. Heim is in a 8-for-47 (.170 average) drought at the plate.
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Getting night off
Wong is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
Wong will get a rest after he started at catcher each of the past three days while going 4-for-12 with a home run, a double, a walk, three RBI and three runs. Danny Jansen will check in for Wong behind the plate in the series finale.
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Dillon Dingler C | DET
Tigers' Dillon Dingler: Sitting out Wednesday
Dingler is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Mariners, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Jake Rogers will make a second straight start at catcher after Dingler had started both of the two games prior to that. The two have split the catching duties evenly, with both getting seven starts apiece since Dingler was promoted from Triple-A Toledo on July 29.
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Elias Diaz C | SD
Rockies' Elias Diaz: Getting Wednesday off
Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.
After starting at catcher both of the past two nights, Diaz will get a break as the Rockies conclude their series in Arizona with a day game. Jacob Stallings will get the nod behind the plate, catching for starting pitcher Tanner Gordon.
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Kyle Higashioka C | SD
Padres' Kyle Higashioka: Absent from lineup
Higashioka is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Pirates, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports,
Higashioka caught both of the first two games of the series, but he'll begin Wednesday's finale on the bench. Luis Campusano and Martin Perez will form the Padres' battery.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Homers in Tuesday's loss
Perez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 13-3 loss to the Twins.
Perez has hit safely in 10 of his 11 games in August, going 12-for-40 (.300) with three homers, three doubles and six RBI in that span. The catcher is up to 22 long balls this year, one shy of matching his total from each of the previous two campaigns. He's added a .280/.340/.479 slash line with 79 RBI, 49 runs scored, 20 doubles and no stolen bases over 117 contests this season.