MLB Player News

Perez (thumb) isn't starting Wednesday against the Angels.

Perez exited Tuesday's matchup against the Angels after appearing to aggravate his left thumb injury, and he'll be out of the lineup for at least one game. Whether he's available off the bench remains to be seen, but MJ Melendez will start behind the dish while Hunter Dozier serves as the designated hitter.

Heineman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Heineman is sitting for the third time in four games, and manager Derek Shelton looks like he may prefer to ride the hotter bat between his two catchers rather than anointing one as the clear top option. Michael Perez will be rewarded with another turn behind the dish after popping a home run in Tuesday's 7-1 win, but he still has more work to do to separate himself from Heineman as the two battle for playing time. Both have been equally unproductive this season, with Perez having supplied a .435 OPS while Heineman sits on a .432 mark.

Reds manager David Bell said Wednesday that Stephenson no longer needs a cast to protect his fractured right thumb, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Though the skipper noted Stephenson is "healing properly," the backstop remains without a clear timeline to resume baseball activities. When he first sustained the thumb injury June 9, Stephenson was projected to miss 4-to-6 weeks, so fantasy managers shouldn't count on him returning from the 10-day injured list until shortly before the All-Star break in a best-case scenario.

Casali is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus Atlanta.

Casali will sit for the second consecutive day as Austin Wynns draws the start behind the plate and bats ninth. Casali has been dealing with a nagging hamstring issue, which could explain the back-to-back absences from the lineup.

D'Arnaud isn't starting Wednesday's game against San Francisco.

D'Arnaud drew starts in the last three games and went 3-for-13 with two homers, four RBI, three runs and three strikeouts. William Contreras is starting behind the plate and batting fifth.

Serven is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Marlins,

Serven will get a day off Wednesday after he went 0-for-5 with two punchouts in Tuesday's loss. Elias Diaz will take over behind the plate and bat eighth.

Garver isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Garver returned to the lineup Tuesday against Philadelphia and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Brad Miller is serving as the designated hitter and batting ninth Wednesday.

Zavala will sit Wednesday versus the Blue Jays.

Zavala will be on the bench after he went 0-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday's win. Reese McGuire will start at catcher and bat sixth Wednesday. The two men will likely continue to split time behind the plate until Yasmani Grandal (back) returns from the 10-day injured list.

Maldonado isn't starting Wednesday against the Mets.

Maldonado went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in Tuesday's win over the Mets. However, he'll be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games while Jason Castro starts behind the dish and bats eighth.

Mack is dealing with a hamstring strain and is expected to miss approximately 4-6 weeks, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extrabase reports.

Mack has appeared in just four games this year while battling a hamstring issue, and he'll focus on his rehab process after being diagnosed with a strain. The 19-year-old will presumably attempt to return to game action sometime in late July or early August.