MLB Player News

McGuire is not starting Sunday's series finale against the Rays.

Even after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout Saturday, McGuire is still hitting .400 in his last 15 games. Danny Jansen returned from the injured list Saturday and is starting at catcher Sunday, but manager Charlie Montoyo has stated that McGuire and his hot bat will remain the primary backstop for now.

Smith is on the bench for Sunday's game against the Nationals, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Saturday night's rain delay led to a long night behind the plate for Smith, so it's understandable that he sits out Sunday's morning game. Smith has struggled a bit offensively of late, hitting .220 in his last 15 games. Austin Barnes will catch and bat eighth Sunday.

Gomes went 1-for-2 with a walk and a three-run home run in Saturday's loss to the Dodgers.

The catcher was responsible for all three of Washington's runs in the contest, slugging a three-run homer off Clayton Kershaw in the fourth inning. The long ball was his eighth of the season and pushed his RBI total to 30. Gomes has been heating up of late, batting .364 (8-for-22) with three doubles and four RBI over his past seven games.

Murphy went 3-for-5 with a walk and scored three times in Saturday's 12-inning victory over Boston.

The backstop played all 12 frames in the contest and scored three of Oakland's seven runs. The three-hit effort was only his second such performance this season, and he reached base a season-high four times overall. Murphy's big game came on the heels of a five-game stretch during which he went 1-for-18. He is slashing .221/.321/.420 on the campaign.

Heim isn't starting Saturday's game against the Mariners.

Heim has had increased playing time recently with Jose Trevino (forearm) sidelined, but he'll retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three games. John Hicks will start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Barrera was recalled by the Nationals on Saturday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Barrera has appeared in 37 games with Triple-A Rochester to begin the season, and he slashed .224/.324/.345 with three home runs, 14 RBI and 11 runs. He'll now rejoin the major-league roster and should serve in a depth role at catcher after Alex Avila (calf) was placed on the injured list Saturday.

Plawecki (hamstring) has resumed running and going through baseball activities, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Manager Alex Cora said that he expects Plawecki to travel with the team on Sunday when the Red Sox travel to Anaheim, and the catcher could be back in action during the series against the Angels, which begins Monday. The 30-year-old has been on the injured list since June 22 due to a left hamstring strain.

Perez isn't starting Saturday's game against the Astros.

Perez was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday after he missed two months with a finger injury, but he won't be in the lineup for his first game after rejoining the 26-man roster. Austin Hedges will start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Maldonado (bereavement) might not return until Tuesday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Maldonado has been on the bereavement list since Wednesday, and it appears as though he could miss the remainder of the team's road trip in Cleveland. Garrett Stubbs is starting at catcher while Jason Castro serves as the designated hitter Saturday.

Cleveland is likely to activate Perez (finger) from the 60-day injured list before Saturday's game against the Astros, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

Perez, who suffered the finger injury May 3, has been rehabbing with Triple-A Columbus since June 23, going 2-for-15 with four walks in those games. Though he hit just .131 before the injury, the 32-year-old will likely return to the top of Cleveland's offensively-inept catching depth chart.