-
Salvador Perez DH | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Launches game-winning homer
Perez went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 8-6 win over the Yankees.
Perez is just 2-for-12 since returning from thumb surgery Friday, but he's made his two hits count -- both have been three-run blasts. His long ball Sunday was crushed, a 112.2 mph, 441-foot rocket to center field in the ninth inning to secure the victory. The catcher is slashing .209/.249/.438 with 13 long balls, 41 RBI, 27 runs scored and 13 doubles in 60 contests this year.
-
Brian Serven C | ATH
Rockies' Brian Serven: Connects for fourth homer
Serven went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Dodgers.
Serven will be happy to put July behind him -- he went 3-for-37 (.081) with a home run, a double, four runs scored and a 3:8 BB:K in 12 contests this month. That poor performance at the plate mostly erased the gains he'd made in June to earn a split of playing time with Elias Diaz, and it appears Serven is more or less back to a backup role. He's slashing .225/.295/.382 with four homers, 10 RBI, 12 runs scored, two doubles and a triple in 112 plate appearances this year.
-
Joey Bart C | CHW
Giants' Joey Bart: Sits after three straight starts
Bart is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Austin Wynns will step in behind the plate for Bart, who went 2-for-10 with a solo home run while starting in each of the past three contests. Though Bart is currently operating as the Giants' No. 1 catcher, he could fall into more of a timeshare by the end of the week if Curt Casali (oblique) is cleared to return from the injured list.
-
Yan Gomes C | CHC
Cubs' Yan Gomes: Sitting out series finale
Gomes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Gomes had caught three of the Cubs' last four games, but he'll take a seat in the series finale while Willson Contreras checks in behind the plate after having previously seen more opportunities at designated hitter coming out of the All-Star break. Contreras is a prime candidate to get moved ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, so Gomes could soon have the No. 1 catcher's role all to himself.
-
Diego Cartaya C | SF
Dodgers' Diego Cartaya: Exits with injury
Cartaya was removed from Sunday's game with High-A Great Lakes due to an apparent injury, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
Cartaya suffered the injury while attempting to block a pitch while catching, and he left the field with an athletic trainer. The 20-year-old is one of the Dodgers' top prospects and has a .279/.407/.529 slash line in 36 games since being promoted to High-A at the start of June.
-
Gary Sanchez C | MIL
Twins' Gary Sanchez: Getting Sunday off
Sanchez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.
Sanchez will be receiving some much-needed maintenance after he started behind the plate in each of the Twins' last nine games, a streak that dates back to before the All-Star break. Caleb Hamilton will get a rare turn behind the dish Sunday while Sanchez rests.
-
Martin Maldonado C | SD
Astros' Martin Maldonado: Sitting Sunday
Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Maldonado will get a breather after he went 2-for-10 with a double and a run scored while starting in each of Houston's last three games. Korey Lee will fill in for Maldonado behind the plate.
-
Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
White Sox's Yasmani Grandal: Resting Sunday
Grandal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Grandal went 4-for-16 with two RBI while starting each of the White Sox's past four games as either a designated hitter or catcher. Jose Abreu will handle DH duties in the series finale with Oakland, while Seby Zavala gets the nod behind the plate.
-
Elias Diaz C | TEX
Rockies' Elias Diaz: Takes seat Sunday
Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Dodgers, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Diaz is 7-for-22 with a home run and eight RBI since the All-Star break and will receive Sunday off. Brian Serven will work behind the plate in the series finale against Los Angeles.
-
Rene Pinto C | PHI
Rays' Rene Pinto: Stealing work from Bethancourt
Pinto will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Guardians.
After going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Saturday's 6-4 win, Pinto will be rewarded with his third start in the last four contests. He may have overtaken Christian Bethancourt as the Rays' top catcher while Francisco Mejia (shoulder) is on the shelf, but even if that's the case, Pinto's fantasy upside is minimal. In 64 plate appearances with the big club this season, Pinto is slashing .210/.234/.323 with two home runs and nine RBI.