MLB Player News

Fortes is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Fortes made three consecutive starts for the Marlins at one point last week, but he'll be on the bench for the third time in four games while Jacob Stallings gets the nod behind the dish. Though Fortes has been the far more productive hitter of the two backstops this season, Stallings' defensive acumen looks as though it'll be enough to make him Option 1A behind the plate for Miami as the team opens its second-half schedule.

Grandal (back) went 0-for-2 with three walks Sunday in his rehab game with Triple-A Charlotte.

Grandal drew starts at either first base or catcher over his last three games with Charlotte and looks like he'll be ready to return from the 10-day injured list to step back in as the White Sox's No. 1 catcher when the big club opens its second-half schedule Friday against the Guardians. The 33-year-old, who has been on the shelf since June 13 with lower-back spasms, began his rehab assignment July 7. Between stops with Charlotte and Double-A Birmingham, Grandal appeared in nine games and went 9-for-25 with two home runs and an impressive 13:4 BB:K.

Kirk went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the Royals.

Just ahead of his first career appearance in the All-Star Game, Kirk played hero for the Blue Jays, taking Wyatt Mills deep in the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie. The homer was his 11th of the season, snapping a 19-game drought, but Kirk has hardly been quiet in July -- he's hit safely in six straight games and sports a .298/.333/.386 slash line through 16 contests on the month.

The Brewers reinstated Jackson (finger) from the 10-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Nashville.

Milwaukee already has three catchers on its 26-man active roster (Omar Narvaez, Victor Caratini and Pedro Severino), so Jackson won't join the big club even though he's made a full recovery from the left middle finger sprain that landed him on the IL on June 10. Jackson recently wrapped a five-game rehab assignment between the Brewers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate and Nashville, during which he went 3-for-9 with a double, five walks and a run scored.

Mejia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Orioles.

Mejia took Keegan Akin yard in the sixth inning to record his sixth homer of the season. He closed pre-All-Star break action in strong form, hitting .381 with four RBI and four runs scored across his last six starts. Even since the Rays acquired Christian Bethancourt, Mejia has alternated starts behind the dish.

The Royals reinstated Gallagher (personal) from the restricted list Monday.

Gallagher was one of 10 Royals players who will rejoin the 26-man active roster after being ineligible to play during the four-game weekend series in Toronto due his vaccination status. He closed the Royals' first-half schedule with a .243/.300/.378 slash line to go with five RBI and one run across 42 plate appearances. Gallagher should settle back in as a lightly used No. 2 catcher behind MJ Melendez (personal), who was also reinstated from the restricted list Monday.

Raleigh went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 6-2 win over the Rangers on Sunday.

Raleigh has found the power stroke in 2022, going deep 13 times over the first half of the season. The total ranks him third amongst catchers, behind only Will Smith and Willson Contreras. Raleigh's .469 SLG is the redeeming factor in a slash line which otherwise includes a .206 AVG and .286 OBP.

The Royals returned Fermin to Triple-A Omaha following Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays.

Since Fermin joined the Royals as a replacement for one of the 10 players who were placed on the restricted list prior to Thursday's series opener in Toronto, he won't be exposed to waivers even while he comes off the 40-man roster as he heads back to Omaha. Fermin started behind the plate in the last two games of the series with the Blue Jays, going 0-for-7 with a run scored.

Delay will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Rockies.

Delay will be making his second start since Tyler Heineman (personal) was reinstated Friday from the family medical emergency list, with one of his starts coming against a right-hander (German Marquez) and the other coming versus a lefty (Austin Gomber). Since Delay is hitting .320 with three doubles, three RBI and two runs scored in 10 games following his call-up from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier this month, the Pirates could be inclined to give him a look as their primary backstop while he's swinging a hot bat.

Heineman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.

After going 2-for-3 in Saturday's 2-0 loss in what was his first start since July 2, Heineman will retreat to the bench for the series finale. Though he's available again after a stint on the family medical emergency list, Heineman looks like he could be the Pirates' No. 2 option at catcher behind Jason Delay, who gets the starting nod Sunday.