MLB Player News

Jonny Gomes and A.J. Pierzynski aren't in the Braves' starting lineup for Saturday's game against Washington.

Kelly Johnson gets the start in left field in place of Gomes. It's Johnson's 13th start of the year in left, one shy of Gomes' total, but it's just the second time in the last six games that Johnson has started there.

Johnson will bat cleanup.

Christian Bethancourt gets the start behind the plate in place of Pierzynski. It's his 13th start of the year at catcher. He'll bat seventh. 

Devin Mesoraco is back in the Reds' starting lineup on Friday against the White Sox. Mesoraco, who hasn't started a game since April 11 due to a hip injury, is listed as the designated hitter and cleanup hitter for manager Bryan Price. 

Mesoraco has been able to pinch hit over the last few weeks, but has not recorded a hit since his last start. He has just two hits on the season overall. 

Diamondbacks catcher Tuffy Gosewisch went 3 for 4 with four RBI during Thursday's 11-0 win over the Padres.

Gosewisch entered the game without any extra-base hits on the season, but he hit three doubles Thursday. Gosewisch now has back-to-back three-hit games after only having one multi-hit game prior to Wednesday's game. The last two games has raised his batting average from .176 to .237.

"It felt great," Gosewisch said, per MLB.com. "First one, got lucky and it fell in and relaxed a little after that and got some pitches to hit. But as a whole I think the whole team had a great approach. We just continued to get hits throughout the game."

Pirates catcher Chris Stewart drove in two runs to help lead the Pirates to a 7-2 win over the Reds on Thursday.

Stewart went 2 for 4 in the game. The two RBI came when he hit a single off Kevin Gregg to drive in Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte in the seventh inning. Stewart has now hit safely in his last four games. During the hitting streak, Stewart has six hits in his last 15 at-bats.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal haunted the Brewers pitching staff during a 14-4 rout Thursday. Grandal had a career-high eight RBI in Thursday's win.

"You're on a new team, and you just want to do good, you want to belong here and turn it around at some point," Grandal said, per MLB.com "[Manager Don Mattingly] just said, you know the numbers will be there. Just relax and play."

Grandal started his afternoon with a one-out single in the first inning, which produced no runs. He then walked in the third and fifth innings before driving home two runs with a single in the sixth inning. He added a three-run homer in the eighth inning before hitting another three-run homer in the ninth inning.

"Yaz has got a really good eye, and he sees the ball good," Mattingly said. "He's got to use that and attack. He's a little like Joc. He's got to use the whole field."

He finished the afternoon 4 for 4 with three runs and two walks. Grandal's previous career high was five RBI. He has had just three multiple home run games in his career.

Grandal's eight RBI are the most for a Dodger since James Loney had nine in 2006. He entered play Thursday with just two home runs and four RBI in his first 22 games.

Two key Reds players remain out of the lineup for the Thursday game in Pittsburgh. Both shortstop Zack Cozart (finger) and catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) are sidelined.

Cozart was removed from the Sunday game and has yet to return. He was able to take batting practice Thursday and made 40 throws Wednesday, reports MLB.com.

"There is still inflammation in there right now, but it just feels way better. I swung, took soft toss, and did my normal routine and it felt really good," Cozart said. "Swinging was obviously my biggest concern and [Thursday] was a good day, so far at least."

Manager Bryan Price did not rule out Cozart playing in Friday's game, reports MLB.com.

"I think it's more realistic to look and see where he is [Friday] as far as a potential start," Price said.

Mesoraco has played sparingly since April 11 and is considering surgery, which would take him away from the Reds for about a month.

Catcher Yasmani Grandal was back in the Dodgers' starting lineup, batting second for Thursday's matinee against the Brewers. Grandal was rested on Wednesday after starting five of the team's previous six games. Grandal has been hitting the ball well lately, going 10 for his last 35 with a home run and four doubles. 

He has been sharing the catching duties with A.J. Ellis, who was out of the lineup on Thursday.

Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado received a day off Thursday against the Dodgers for the first time in 10 games. Juan Centeno started in his absence.

Maldonado, who has started in the absence of Jonathan Lucroy, hasn't started just twice in 16 games. He is batting .196 (9 for 46) with one home run, four RBI, three walks, six runs and 13 strikeouts in 15 games since becoming the full-time starter.

Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is expected to sign with the Diamondbacks once he clears waivers, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. Saltalamacchia was designated for assignment by the Marlins on April 27 and was placed on release waivers Tuesday.

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale confirmed Saltalamacchia will start out in the minors, per MLB Network Radio.

"He's going to play in Reno (Triple-A), get his game right and we'll figure out how we're going to work this thing," Hale said.

Tuffy Gosewisch has been the Diamondbacks' primary catcher in 2015, starting 19 of 26 games behind the plate. However, he hasn't provided much offensive support, batting just .208 with no extra-base hits and five RBI in 20 games.

The Mariners, Orioles and Royals were also teams reportedly interested in signing Saltalamacchia, who lost his starting job with the Marlins to rookie J.T. Realmuto.

Saltalamacchia has a .240/.310/.415/.725 slash line over nine MLB seasons. He hit a career-best 25 home runs in 2012 with the Red Sox.

Diamondbacks catcher Tuffy Gosewisch went 3 for 4 with one RBI, one run scored and one stolen base in his team's 5-1 win over the Rockies in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader.

Gosewisch didn't see action in the early game Wednesday and entered the second game of the doubleheader with just one hit in 14 at-bats over his last five games. The three hits marked a season high and represented just his second multihit performance of the season. Gosewisch has hit .208/.250/.208 in 72 at-bats.