MLB Player News

Perez hit a two-run home run in a 1-for-4 game in a loss Monday against the Angels.

Perez was just 3-for-24 with eight strikeouts and no extra-base hits over his last seven games, so he badly needed something to get him out of that slump. Sunday marked his first day off since the All-Star break, and the rest might have been exactly what he needed.

Leon went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Monday against the Tigers.

The veteran backstop is now hitting an even .400 for the season through 80 at-bats. Leon's 10 RBI this month are two more than he had in his entire MLB career prior to 2016. The Red Sox may still be in the market for a catcher before the trade deadline, but for now, Leon will remain in the lineup more often than not.

Maldonado went 2-for-3 with a walk and a three-run homer in Monday's win versus the Diamondbacks.

The backup catcher made the most of his start by dealing the fatal blow to Diamondbacks rookie pitcher Braden Shipley. The 29-year-old catcher's sixth-inning shot gave him four on the season, matching his total from each of the previous three years. Playing second fiddle to Jonathan Lucroy, one of the better offensive catchers in baseball, Maldonado is nothing more than a punt play in daily formats.

Rupp (head) is starting behind the dish and hitting fifth Monday against the Marlins, CSN Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury reports.

He was hit in the head by a fastball from Tyler Glasnow in Saturday's game and was then held out Sunday, but after passing the MLB's concussion protocol, he was ready to get back out there Monday. Rupp has eight homers since the start of June and has surprisingly turned in a very serviceable campaign to date, making him a solid fantasy option, particularly in two-catcher formats.

D'Arnaud is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.

D'Arnaud will sit for the second consecutive game as Rene Rivera picks up another start behind the plate. According to Adam Rubin of ESPN.com, manager Terry Collins likes Rivera catching Noah Syndergaard, so this could result in a few lost starts for d'Arnaud if the trend continues. D'Arnaud is hitting a measly .238 since the All-Star break, but his job as the starter is still secure.

Rupp (head) passed MLB's concussion protocol for a second straight day Sunday, John Perrotto of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Rupp, who was out of the lineup Sunday, was hit in the left ear flap of his batting helmet on Saturday by a pitch from Tyler Glasnow of the Pirates. It looks like Rupp should be able to return to the starting lineup Monday.

McCann will start at catcher Sunday against the White Sox and bat eighth in the lineup.

Though McCann is behind the plate for Sunday's game, he had sat out the previous three contests in favor of Jarrod Saltalamacchia. McCann has followed up a promising rookie year with a dud of season in 2016, slashing just .197/.245/.303 across 205 plate appearances. Until he turns a corner offensively, he may have to settle for a timeshare at catcher with Saltalamacchia.

Perez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Rangers, Josh Vernier of 610 Sports Radio reports.

It's a well-earned day off for Perez, who has been in the lineup for every game since July 4. Drew Butera will fill in for him behind the plate. The time to rest and recover could prove helpful with Perez stuck in a 2-for-23 slump over his last six contests.

Rupp (head) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Pirates.

Rupp was hit in the head with a fastball from erratic right-hander Tyler Glasnow on Saturday, which ultimately forced his exit from the game. Although he did not show any concussion symptoms, Rupp had caught three straight for the Phillies and was likely in line for a day off Sunday anyway. Whether it's injury-related or not, Carlos Ruiz will take over behind the plate for the afternoon contest. Consider Rupp day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener against the Marlins.

D'Arnaud is out of the lineup Sunday against the Marlins, Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reports.

After starting three consecutive games, the Mets opted to give d'Arnaud the day off and put Rene Rivera behind the plate. Like many of his teammates, d'Arnaud's batting has been rather subpar this season, as he's hitting just .246/.302/.339. However, he's shown improvement as of late and has gone 4-for-11 over his last three starts.