MLB Player News

Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart took full responsibility for what decided Monday's game against the Braves. Closer Aroldis Chapman's pitch went through Barnhart's glove, allowing a go-ahead run to score in the ninth inning.

"I've got to catch the ball, it's that simple," Barnhart said to MLB.com. "That doesn't matter -- 110, 120 [mph], it doesn't matter. That ball has to be caught. There's no excuse."

Manager Bryan Price didn't solely blame Barnahart for the error.

"It was just a pitch that got away," Price said. "It's hard when you're throwing that hard and the ball cuts instead of sinks. It's a tough position to play with a guy that throws like Chappy does. It's a lot of velocity and a lot of action."

Although Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud has been cleared for most baseball activities, he has not been cleared to begin hitting, reports ESPNNewYork.com.

d'Arnaud is dealing with a broken pinky finger and is on the 15-day disabled list. He has not played since April 19.

Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson is out of the starting lineup on Monday with John Mayberry taking over in right field, the team announced.

Granderson has missed just three of the team's first 31 games for rest and started six in a row. Mayberry is hitting .120 in 25 at-bats this season. Michael Cuddyer is also back in the starting lineup after originally being reported as out for Monday.

Dilson Herrera and Kevin Plawecki all return to the lineup after getting the day off on Sunday.

The Mets are currently the underdogs (+150) against the Cubs.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco, who saw his first action since April 11 as the designated hitter when the team was in Chicago, was not in the starting lineup for Monday's game, as he continues to recover from the hip impingement that has sidelined him for most of the year. 

Mesoraco had two hits Sunday, doubling his total on the year, but will be limited to pinch-hitting duty for the time being now that the Reds are playing NL teams. Despite his injury potentially being serious enough to require surgery, the Reds have resisted placing him on the disabled list since he can still hit and run, per MLB.com. 

"It's definitely nice to play but you want to help out. If I go out there and don't help, it's no fun," he said.

Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart only has six starts on the season, but he will get the nod Monday as Cincinnati opens a series against the Braves. 

One of Barnhart's previous starts came on April 30 against Atlanta pitcher Shelby Miller, the same hurler whom the Reds will face Monday. Barnhart hit a home run off Miller in that game, one of five Reds in the starting lineup who have taken Miller deep, including starting pitcher Mike Leake. 

Barnhart is hitting .250 on the season with two homers and two RBIs. 

Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto has hit just .180/.175/.246 with five RBI in 61 at-bats against right-handed pitchers this season.

Realmuto has assumed starter duties since the release of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and while he's had no issues against lefties (.357/.471/.643 in 14 at-bats), he has yet to find success against right-handers. He got the day off Sunday after going 0 for 11 in his previous three games.

Mets catcher Johnny Monell has only taken two at-bats in 2015, but made one count on Sunday, delivering a two-run double in the eighth inning in Philadelphia.

"I just knew that guys in front of me were getting on and I would have an opportunity with some people on base to hit," Monell said to the New York Post. "I ended up squaring up pretty good and it ends up in the gap, scoring two and giving us a little cushion going into the ninth."

Monell hit .397 with Triple-A Las Vegas before getting called up to New York.

Catcher Martin Maldonado went 3 for 5 on Sunday with a home run and then a walk-off RBI single in the Brewers' 3-2, 11-inning win over the Cubs.

The homer was Maldonado's second of the year and first since April 21.

Reds designated hitter Devin Mesoraco went 2 for 4 with an RBI triple in his team's 4-3 loss to the White Sox Sunday.

Mesoraco has been limited by a hip injury for much of the year, but he was able to make two starts this weekend while serving as the designated hitter. He had just two hits on the season coming into Sunday's game before doubling his total in one day.

Mesoraco has hit .118/.231/.176 with one stolen base in 34 at-bats. With the Reds leaving Chicago to return to non-DH action, the catcher will likely be limited to pinch-hit duty in the immediate future.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, right fielder Andre Ethier and third baseman Juan Uribe are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Rockies.

Grandal has been red hot in May, raising his average from .189 to .307 in a span of seven games, but he'll get a second straight day off Sunday after Saturday's game was postponed. A.J. Ellis will start behind the plate.

The Dodgers are heavy road favorites (-185) Sunday.