MLB Player News
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Francisco Alvarez C | NYM
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Receiving Sunday off
Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Astros.
It's a well-deserved day off for Alvarez, who posted a .471/.558/.882 slash line with five doubles and three homers while starting the past 17 games. Luis Torrens will step in behind the plate to catch for righty Luis Severino on Sunday.
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Elias Diaz C | KC
Rockies' Elias Diaz: Activated, serving as DH on Sunday
The Rockies reinstated Diaz (calf) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He'll serve as the Rockies' designated hitter and will bat fifth in Sunday's series finale versus the White Sox, according to Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette.
Colorado designated infielder Elehuris Montero for assignment to clear room on the active roster for Diaz, who returns to action after missing just under three weeks with a left calf strain. Though he'll operate as the Rockies' DH in his first game back, Diaz should soon settle back into primary duties at catcher, leaving fewer opportunities to go around for Jacob Stallings and Hunter Goodman.
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Nick Fortes C | TB
Marlins' Nick Fortes: Bowing out of starting nine
Fortes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
On the bench for the fourth time in six games, Fortes' standing atop the depth chart at catcher could be on shaky ground. Fortes looked to have gained some job security after the Marlins pushed Christian Bethancourt off their 40-man roster earlier this month, but Ali Sanchez has impressed with a .353 on-base percentage since getting called up from Triple-A Jacksonville on June 21. Sanchez will get another turn behind the plate Sunday at Fortes' expense.
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
Pirates' Yasmani Grandal: Receiving rest day
Grandal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
After starting behind the plate in five of the past six games, Grandal will get a breather in the series finale in Atlanta. The Pirates brought back Joey Bart (thumb) from the 10-day injured list Sunday and will put him to work right away, as he'll fill in at catcher while Grandal rests.
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Jason Delay C | BOS
Pirates' Jason Delay: Heading back to Triple-A
The Pirates optioned Delay to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
Delay will head back to the minors as the Pirates clear room on the 26-man active roster for fellow catcher Joey Bart (thumb), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. During his two-week stay with the Pirates, Delay went 3-for-12 with three doubles, two walks, five RBI and one run.
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Joey Bart C | PIT
Pirates' Joey Bart: Returning from IL, starting Sunday
The Pirates reinstated Bart (thumb) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He'll start at catcher and bat seventh in the Pirates' series finale in Atlanta.
Top backstop Yasmani Grandal will take a seat Sunday while the Pirates clear the way for Bart to play in his first game for the big club since May 26. Bart missed more than a month while recovering from a left thumb sprain but proved his health during a recent six-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis, going 6-for-17 with a double and three walks.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Collects three hits, three RBI
Smith went 3-for-6 with a double, three RBI and a run scored in Saturday's win over the Giants.
Smith tied the game at five runs apiece with an infield single in the fifth and later added a two-run double in the 11th to put the Dodgers on top 9-7, marking his first multi-hit effort since June 11 against the Rangers. Despite his recent struggles at the plate, the catcher has still managed to post eight RBI over his last nine games and is now up to 50 RBI on the season. However, he's also struck out twice in three of his last five contests.
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Brett Sullivan C | COL
Padres' Brett Sullivan: Swats first homer of season
Sullivan went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in an 11-1 victory over Boston on Saturday.
Sullivan got in on another big day for San Diego's offense by smashing a two-run homer to right field in the fifth inning. The 28-year-old was recalled from Triple-A on June 22 to fill in for Luis Campusano, who is on the injured list with a thumb injury. However, Kyle Higashioka has been swinging a hot bat, so Sullivan has made only two starts since the call-up.
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Garrett Stubbs C | PHI
Phillies' Garrett Stubbs: Belts first homer
Stubbs went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Marlins.
The 31-year-old backstop got the Phillies on the board in the third inning by clubbing a Roddery Munoz sinker over the right-field fence. The homer was Stubbs' first of the season, and he's been making a modest impact since J.T. Realmuto (knee) was sidelined, hitting safely in nine of his last 10 games and batting .278 (10-for-36) over that stretch. The RBI was his first since June 2, however.