MLB Player News

Plawecki went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and one RBI in the 8-2 win over Philadelphia on Sunday.

After going 0-for-4 against Miami on Aug. 12, Plawecki has raised his season batting average from .216 to .241 in 158 total at-bats. He should continue seeing most of the action behind the dish with Devin Mesoraco serving as his backup. The 27-year-old has 24 RBI and 26 runs scored in 2018.

Hedges is on the bench Sunday against Arizona.

Hedges will sit after starting four straight games. A.J. Ellis will get the call behind the plate.

Grandal is not in the lineup Sunday against the Mariners, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

The switch-hitter isn't sitting against every lefty, but the last five times he's sat have come against southpaws. Austin Barnes will catch Sunday.

Plawecki is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies.

Plawecki will sit after starting on four straight days. Devin Mesoraco will get the call behind the plate Saturday.

Grandal went 1-for-3 with his 21st home run of the season in Friday's 11-1 win over Seattle.

Grandal got a rare start against a lefty, and he responded with just his second homer from the right side of the plate this season. The 29-year-old is batting just .205 against southpaws compared to .261 with 19 long balls against righties, but Friday's power showing could earn him additional starts against left-handed starters down the stretch.

Contreras is not in the lineup against Pittsburgh on Friday.

Contreras will receive a standard day off after starting the past seven games, during which he went 3-for-22 (.136 average) with one RBI. In his absence, Victor Caratini will handle the catching duties and bat seventh.

Grullon's 1.148 OPS since the start of July is the fourth highest among all minor-league hitters, The Athletic Philadelphia reports.

It's been quite the season at the plate for the 22-year-old catcher. After posting an OPS below .700 for five straight seasons, Grullon's reputation seemed to have been locked in as a glove-first backup catcher at best. Suddenly, he's hit .299/.337/.574 with 21 homers for Double-A Reading this year. Reading has been known to inflate the stats of mediocre hitters, but Grullon had already had one shot at the level and hit just .229/.270/.410. If the offensive improvements stick upon a presumed promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley next season, Grullon has a chance to be a long-term starting catcher in the major leagues.

Plawecki went 4-for-4, falling a home run short of the cycle with three RBI, three runs scored and two walks in Thursday's 24-4 win over Philadelphia in the first game of the doubleheader.

One day after knocking a grand slam, Plawecki kept swinging a hot bat Thursday. With just 151 at-bats on the year, Thursday's game brought his season average from .218 to .238 along with 23 RBI and 16 extra-base knocks.

Stallings was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Francisco Cervelli is back to full health, so Stallings will head back to the minors after a four-day stay with the big club during which he failed to make an appearance. The 28-year-old, who is hitting .284/.333/.408 with Triple-A Indianapolis, will continue to serve as organizational catching depth.

Mesoraco is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Mesoraco will stick on the bench for a third straight game as Kevin Plawecki, who went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Wednesday's win, picks up another start behind the dish. The backstop is hitting just .220/.302/.381 through 74 games this season.