MLB Player News

McCann went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in a 6-4 victory over the Twins on Friday.

The 29-year-old continues to be one of the most pleasant surprises in baseball this season. He has hits in nine of his last 10 games, going 14-for-37 (.378) with five home runs during that stretch. Overall, McCann is batting .327 with nine homers, 27 RBI, 36 runs and four stolen bases in 202 at-bats this season.

Bemboom (knee) caught five innings and went 0-for-1 with two walks and a run for the GCL Rays on Friday. He was also charged with two passed balls behind the dish.

Bemboom was more productive at the plate than in his rehab debut Wednesday, but he had a rough night defensively. The backstop has now caught five innings apiece in each of his first two minor-league contests, and he's slated to ramp up his activity level in coming games.

Mejia is not in Friday's lineup against the Cardinals.

He is 7-for-23 (.304 AVG) with two home runs in seven games since rejoining the big club June 17. Austin Hedges will start behind the dish, hitting eighth.

Narvaez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Narvaez will head to the bench for the second straight game in the series opener at Houston. The 27-year-old has a .908 OPS in his last 19 games, but Tom Murphy will start behind the plate again Friday for the Mariners.

Diaz is not in the lineup Friday for the second day in a row.

Diaz has not ceded the starting catcher spot by any means, but fellow backstop Jacob Stallings will be rewarded with a second straight start after going 3-for-3 with a homer in Thursday's contest. Chances are Diaz will be back behind the plate for the Pirates' next game Saturday.

Castillo was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans on Friday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

With Jorge Alfaro returning from a concussion, Castillo will head back down for the time being. Castillo only recorded one hit in seven at-bats with Miami, but regardless his is one of the best feel-good stories of the year in baseball; it took him a decade, but Castillo managed to claw his way back to the big leagues.

Barnhart was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain Friday.

Barnhart was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to the injury and will require at least a 10-day absence. Curt Casali should see the bulk of the time behind the plate while he's sidelined.

Campusano is slashing .326/.398/.515 through High-A Lake Elsinore through 227 at-bats.

The 20-year-old backstop posted a pedestrian .710 OPS in Low-A last season, but he's taken a big step forward offensively with the Storm, as his .326 average currently leads the California League, and he's also mashed eight homers in 62 games. Perhaps most impressively, he's posted a 28:33 BB:K, which has contributed to the stellar .398 on-base percentage. He's also a well-regarded defender, so Campusano has become an all-around standout prospect in his third professional season.

Caratini went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Braves.

Caratini hit his second home run of the season as part of a four-run fifth inning for the Cubs. The 25-year-old is stuck as the backup to Willson Contreras behind the plate, as well as Anthony Rizzo at first base, but he's been productive when he plays as he now has a .293/.376/.467 slash line this season in 75 at-bats.

Stallings went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, two RBI, two runs and a walk in the Pirates' 10-0 win over the Astros on Thursday.

The 29-year-old backstop had an active day from the ninth spot in the order, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances and swatting his first long ball of the season with a sixth-inning solo shot off Cy Sneed. Stallings was brought up out of necessity after Francisco Cervelli (concussion) hit the injured list, but he's done well with his opportunity so far, as this big day at the plate brings his slash line up to .341/.400/.439 through 45 plate appearances.