MLB Player News

Hedges is out of the lineup Sunday versus Tampa Bay.

Hedges started the last three games and will take a seat after going 1-for-9 with a sacrifice fly and four strikeouts. The 28-year-old appears to have taken over the starting role at catcher from Roberto Perez, who starts Sunday, but neither backstop has done enough offensively to earn much job security.

Sanchez (back) is starting behind the plate and batting cleanup Sunday at Boston, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Sanchez was removed from Friday's game while dealing with back spasms and didn't play Saturday, but he'll rejoin the lineup for the series finale. The 28--year-old is 4-for-17 with two solo home runs, four walks and two additional runs in six games since the All-Star break.

Barrera is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Barrera gets a much-needed day off after he went 7-for-23 with three extra-base hits (one home run, two doubles) while catching in each of the Nationals' last six games. Rene Rivera will replace him behind the dish Sunday, but Barrera should continue to see the bulk of the starts at the position until one of Yan Gomes (oblique) or Alex Avila (calf) returns from the injured list.

Stephenson will start at catcher and bat third Sunday against the Cardinals.

He'll crack the lineup for the second time in the series after going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in Friday's 6-5 win. Most of Stephenson's starts in recent weeks have come against left-handed pitching, but he'll take aim at a right-hander (Johan Oviedo) while top backstop Tucker Barnhart sits for the day game after a night game.

Barnhart is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Barnhart will get a breather for the second time in the series, allowing Tyler Stephenson to pick up a turn behind the plate. Cincinnati should continue to hand Barnhart the bulk of the starts against right-handed pitching for the foreseeable future, though he could fall into more of a timeshare at the position with Stephenson if the 51-47 Reds start to fade in the National League playoff picture.

Perez went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 9-8 win over the Tigers.

With the Royals in a 5-0 hole heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Perez kick-started the rally in earnest by chasing Casey Mize from the game with his 22nd homer of the year. The veteran catcher isn't matching last season's extraordinary pace, but he's still slashing an impressive .279/.310/.500 through 96 games.

Barnes went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in a 1-0 triumph over Colorado on Saturday.

Barnes went deep off Colorado starter Kyle Freeland in the second for the game's single run and provided two of only seven hits in the contest. It was the backstop's first home run since June 22 and he's now 5-for-9 over his last three games.

Contreras went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Contreras delivered a leadoff home run in the fourth inning, his 15th long ball of the campaign. He was also ejected from the game arguing a call against Jason Heyward, though it was in the bottom of the ninth inning, so it did not cost him any plate appearances. Contreras has been on a modest power surge of late, delivering two home runs and two doubles across his last six starts. For the season, he is hitting.239/.350/.433 across 346 plate appearances.

Diaz will be on the bench Saturday against the Dodgers.

Diaz has become the Rockies' primary catcher despite a .210/.278/.381 slash line, though he's justified the role over his last 16 games, homering six times while posting a 1.071 OPS. Dom Nunez will start behind the plate Saturday.

Murphy will sit Saturday against Seattle.

Murphy hits the bench for the first time in a week. Aramis Garcia will take over behind the plate in his absence.