MLB Player News

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco missed his seventh straight game Sunday with a left hip impingement and manager Bryan Price still isn't sure when he can return or what do with him, reports MLB.com.

"You're kind of between a rock and a hard place with this," Price said. "You don't want to exacerbate the problem, and I'm confident that his ability to hit and run will not compromise his current condition. [But] it's a lot easier to get him in the lineup when he's able to catch, and he's not there yet. I don't know how much we'll use him as a pinch-hitter. I'm hoping that in the next few days he's able to catch, because that's really his value to our club."

Price has not yet ruled out a stint on the disabled list for Mesoraco.

"[The] feeling is that ... he needed a few extra days rest from catching and may be able to catch in the next couple of days," Price said. "I'm hoping he can. I'm not sure."

The Mets are expected to promote Triple-A catcher Kevin Plawecki after Travis d'Arnaud suffered a fractured hand Sunday, the New York Daily News reports.

"Can he handle it here?" manager Terry Collins said after Sunday's win, his team's eighth straight. "We’ll likely find out."

Plawecki was pulled from his minor-league game early Sunday, all but confirming that he'll be on his way up to New York to serve as the team's No. 1 catcher while d'Arnaud is sidelined. Plawecki is just 8 for 35 this season but hit .309/.365/.460 with 11 home runs and 64 RBI in 376 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A last season.

Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton (groin) and Devin Mesoraco (hip) are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Hamilton came out of Saturday's game with a groin strain. With the speedster out of the lineup, Skip Schumaker will lead off for the Reds Sunday night. Mesoraco hasn't played since last Sunday due to a hip injury, though he was expected to be available at some point this weekend. Tucker Barnhart will draw the start at catcher Sunday.

The Reds are heavy underdogs (+165) against the Cardinals in St. Louis Sunday.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud was removed from Sunday's game against the Marlins after being hit by a pitch. He was then diagnosed with a fractured right hand after being examined, WOR 710 AM reports.

d'Arnaud was struck on the hand, and after being checked out by the trainer, he came out of the game. The catcher went 2 for 3 with an RBI before being replaced. He has hit .317/.356/.537 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 41 at-bats.

d'Arnaud was replaced by Anthony Recker after suffering the injury. Recker could be in for extended playing time while d'Arnaud is on the shelf, or the team could promote Kevin Plawecki to serve as the team's regular catcher and keep Recker in a reserve role.

Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb and catcher Tuffy Gosewisch are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Lamb batted second Saturday for the first time this season but is out of the lineup Sunday for just the second time in his last eight games. Gosewisch started eight of the last nine games behind the plate. With both players on the bench, the Diamondbacks will bat third baseman Aaron Hill fifth and catcher Jordan Pacheco sixth.

The Diamondbacks are underdogs (+125) in San Francisco Sunday.

Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig, left fielder Carl Crawford, catcher Yasmani Grandal and third baseman Juan Uribe are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Rockies.

Puig was able to return from a tight hamstring Saturday and go 2 for 3 with a walk, but manager Don Mattingly said that the outfielder had a noticeable limp while playing nine innings. Crawford is out of the lineup for the second straight day due to illness. Uribe and Grandal are sitting for the first time in four games.

With several starters sidelined, Justin Turner will bat second and play third base, Andre Ethier will bat fifth and start in right field, Scott Van Slyke will start in left field and bat sixth and A.J. Ellis will start behind the plate and bat eighth against Rockies right-hander Eddie Butler.

Despite the multiple absences, the Dodgers are heavy favorites (-165) Sunday.

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.

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.

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.