MLB Player News

Maldonado will sit Saturday against the Reds.

Maldonado's .547 OPS on the season is low even by his standards; he hasn't finished with a lower mark since all the way back in 2013. That hasn't affected his workload, however, as his 51 starts behind the plate rank sixth in the league. Yainer Diaz will catch for Brandon Bielak on Saturday.

Perez (hand) will bat third and start behind the plate Saturday against the Angels.

Perez had been out of action since taking a pitch off his hand in Wednesday's game against the Reds, but he'll return having missed just one start. Perez had reached base safely in five consecutive games prior to the injury, homering twice.

Contreras isn't in the Brewers' lineup Saturday against Pittsburgh.

Contreras is 3-for-17 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored over his last five contests. He'll sit Saturday in favor of Victor Caratini, who holds a 1.033 OPS since the beginning of June and will bat eighth.

Ruiz isn't starting Saturday against the Marlins, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Keibert has gone 6-for-21 at the plate with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored across his last five games and will get a breather Saturday. Riley Adams will take Ruiz's place behind the dish and bat seventh.

Vazquez will hit the bench Saturday against the Tigers.

Vazquez was the Twins' clear primary catcher early in the season, earning 32 starts to Ryan Jeffers' 17 over the first 49 games. Since then, however, both backstops have started 11 games. Vazquez is hitting just .220/.293/.255 on the year and has gone 1-for-20 at the plate over his last eight games, so an uptick in playing time doesn't appear imminent.

Jansen went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 2-1 win over the Rangers.

He supplied all the offense Kevin Gausman and the Toronto bullpen would need when he took Martin Perez deep in the fifth inning. Jansen has gone yard three times in the last two games, giving him nine homers and 30 RBI in only 40 games this season, but his .216/.276/.470 slash line has so far lagged behind last season's career-best performance.

D'Arnaud went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Friday's 8-1 win over the Rockies.

He took Dinelson Lamet deep for a two-run shot in the first inning and then did it again in the third, giving d'Arnaud the 100th and 101st homers of his career. The 34-year-old backstop has four homers and 14 RBI in 25 games this season, with three of those long balls coming in his last five starts, and his .281/.340/.461 slash line has him on pace for his highst OPS since he rang up a career-best .919 mark in 2020.

Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-1 loss to the Mets.

He spoiled New York's shutout bid by taking Tylor Megill deep in the fifth inning, but not much else went right for St. Louis in this one. Contreras had gone just 3-for-30 to begin June, and the multi-hit performance was his first since May 18. The veteran catcher does have eight homers and five steals in 64 games this season, but his .204/.296/.363 slash line has him on pace for career-worst numbers in all three categories.

Naylor will be recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Naylor will also be in the starting lineup and catch Tanner Bibee on Saturday. The backstop's path to a prominent role was cleared when the Guardians designated Mike Zunino for assignment, and in 269 plate appearances with Columbus, Naylor has registered an .873 OPS with 12 homers. The 23-year-old should see the majority of the reps behind the plate beginning Saturday.

Gallagher is starting at catcher and batting ninth Friday versus the Diamondbacks.

Gallagher will take over behind the plate Friday after Mike Zunino was designated for assignment by the Guardians. Gallagher could now become Cleveland's primary catcher, though he has produced an anemic .147/.177/.187 slash line over 75 at-bats in 29 games this season. David Fry is also an option behind the plate, but top prospect Bo Naylor, who's with Triple-A Columbus, figures to be on his way sooner rather than later.