MLB Player News

Maldonado (foot) isn't in Saturday's starting lineup against the Twins, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Maldonado will get a day to rest after fouling a ball off his left foot in Friday's tilt. Manager Mike Scioscia stated Maldonado is fine, but he was spotted limping into the clubhouse Saturday morning, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports, so he'll be considered day-to-day. Jose Briceno is penciled into the lineup in his place.

Stassi will be the starting catcher Saturday against Texas, Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Starting backstop Brian McCann was activated off the disabled list and played Friday, so he'll get a break Saturday. Stassi could also start Sunday with the Rangers scheduled to throw the left-handed Matt Moore. Stassi is crushing southpaws this season with a 1.030 OPS.

Grandal went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs to help the Dodgers to a 7-3 victory over the Braves on Friday.

Grandal had been slumping coming into this contest with just three hits in June, but he broke out with this multi-homer effort that bumped him up to 11 long balls on the season. His batting average was bound to come down to earth eventually, but even if he stays around the .249 mark he's currently posting throughout the season, Grandal's power-hitting abilities and career .339 on-base percentage suggest he'll remain a fantasy asset at a shallow position.

Gomes is not in the lineup against Detroit on Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Gomes will receive a standard day off for maintenance purposes after starting the past three games behind the plate. In his stead, Roberto Perez will catch Trevor Bauer and bat eighth.

Plawecki is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Plawecki started the last four games -- including one start at first base -- and went 3-for-16 with six strikeouts in 18 plate appearances. Devin Mesoraco was nursing a hamstring injury most of the week, but returns to the lineup Friday to give Plawecki the night off.

Mesoraco (hamstring) is starting at catcher and batting fifth against the Yankees on Friday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Mesoraco experienced tightness in his hamstring following Sunday's game against the Cubs and had not returned to the lineup all week. The 29-year-old has a .218/.301/.436 slash line in 101 at-bats this season. Masahiro Tanaka takes the mound for the Yankees on Friday.

Narvaez is not in the lineup against Boston on Friday.

Narvaez will get a breather after picking up two hits, including a double, during Thursday's series finale versus the Twins. In his absence, Kevan Smith will catch Dylan Covey.

Diaz clubbed a three-run home run Thursday and finished the day 1-for-4 with four RBI against the Dodgers.

Diaz's three-run blast off of Brock Stewart brought the Pirates within two runs of the visiting Dodgers and marked his fourth home run of the season. He plays sparingly behind Francisco Cervelli, but Diaz manages to produce when given the opportunity. He was slashing .286/.342/.443 over 70 at-bats entering Thursday.

Grandal went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in Thursday's win over the Pirates.

Thursday's tough outing dropped Grandal's slash line to .243/.341/.442 on the year. Grandal is just 3-for-15 in June with six strikeouts. He has had success against right-handed pitching, however, which bodes well for his chances to turn things around over the weekend with the Dodgers facing right-handers Friday and Saturday in Atlanta.

McCann is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

McCann will take a seat for Thursday's series finale after starting the previous three games behind the dish, going 1-for-9 with a pair of walks in those contests. John Hicks will start at catcher and hit sixth in his stead.