MLB Player News

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud still needs to use a brace for his injured elbow, reports ESPNNewYork.com. d'Arnaud has been sidelined since June 20 due to a sprained elbow.

Since it was unlikely Royals catcher Salvador Perez was going to catch both games of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rays after Monday's game was rained out, manager Ned Yost made the decision to rest his starting catcher during the first game of the doubleheader.

Drew Butera, who also started Sunday for Kansas City, was behind the plate for the doubleheader opener.

Perez has started behind the plate in 71 of the Royals' 80 games. Unfortunately, Perez has been mired in an offensive slump for a few weeks, batting .164 in his last 16 games.

Mets backup catcher Johnny Monell had two RBI in Monday's win over San Francisco. Monell doubled his season RBI total, with his first runs batted in since May 10. 

Monell hit his first double since May 10 and went 1 for 4, hitting in his third straight game. 

The National League All Star reserves and pitchers were announced on Monday evening, and there was no room for the reigning National League MVP.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was not selected for the All Star team, although he's one of five candidates to take the final spot on the roster in the Final Vote. 

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant made the team as an injury replacement for the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton. Bryant is one of two rookies on the team, along with Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson. 

The Pirates sent two starting pitchers to the All Star team for the first time since 1960. MLB wins leader Gerrit Cole and fellow Pittsburgh starter A.J. Burnett will both be making their first appearance. 

National League reserves are:

Catchers: Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers; Yadier Molina, Cardinals
First basemen: Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers; Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Second basemen: DJ LeMahieu, Rockies; Joe Panik, Giants
Third basemen: Nolan Arenado, Rockies; Kris Bryant, Cubs
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, Giants
Outfielders: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates; Joc Pederson, Dodgers; A.J. Pollock, Diamondbacks; Justin Upton, Padres

National League pitchers are:

Madison Bumgarner, Giants; A.J. Burnett, Pirates; Aroldis Chapman, Reds; RHP: Gerrit Cole, Pirates; Jacob deGrom, Mets; Zack Greinke, Dodgers; Mark Melancon, Pirates; Shelby Miller, Braves; Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies; Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers; Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals; Max Scherzer, Nationals; Michael Wacha, Cardinals

The five candidates for the Final Vote are:

Johnny Cueto, Reds; Jeurys Familia, Mets; Carlos Martinez, Cardinals; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies

Tigers catcher James McCann is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game. McCann has started 49 games and five of the last seven. 

Replacing McCann behind the plate is Alex Avila, who started at first the last two games. Avila will get his 22nd start at catcher this season. 

Tigers catcher James McCann drew back-to-back starts Saturday and Sunday against the Blue Jays after Alex Avila started in his first game off the disabled list Friday. Avila started at first base the last two games after Miguel Cabrera went on the disabled list.

McCann went 1 for 4 with a triple, one RBI and one strikeout Saturday before going 2 for 3 with one run, one RBI and one walk Sunday. 

He has now hit safely in five straight games, batting .476 (10 for 21) with one double, one triple, two home runs, five RBI, five runs, one walk and three strikeouts.

A knee injury and the struggle to find his stroke has pretty much cost Indians catcher Yan Gomes half a season. But he's finally showing signs of life.

Gomes is batting .333 (7-for-21) in his last five games to end a 4-for-37 slide. PITCHf/x reports that he has slammed seven balls with exit velocities of at least 100 mph since June 16 after managing zero before the injury that knocked him out for six weeks. He is simply trying to grind his way through it.

"This game is so frustrating and so hard," Gomes told MLB.com. "And the more and more I think about looking at the board and seeing if I'm getting there, or if I'm going to get talks from you guys where I'm struggling or something, it's just some stuff that I can't even worry about.

"It comes down to good at-bats or hard outs or bloopers - whatever. It's going to work out the way it's supposed to work out. From my career, I know I'm a good hitter. I know things are going to turn out."

Gomes added that he's feeling better at the plate.

"You've just got to take it and know it's a good sign," he said. "I'm seeing the ball well."

The American League starters for the 2015 All-Star Game on July 14 were announced Sunday. The Royals will send four starters to the Summer Classic, with Salvador Perez, Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon leading the votes in their respective positions.

Angels outfielder Mike Trout will make his fourth consecutive All-Star appearance. He received the most votes of any outfielder and the second most on the AL roster.

Catcher: Salvador Perez, Royals
First baseman: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (injured)
Second baseman: Jose Altuve, Astros
Third baseman: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays (top AL vote-getter)
Shortstop: Alcides Escobar, Royals
Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels
Outfield: Lorenzo Cain, Royals
Outfield: Alex Gordon, Royals
Designated Hitter: Nelson Cruz , Mariners

Rays catcher Curt Casali picked up two RBIs, doubling his season total, without the use of a hit in Tampa Bay's win over the Yankees on Sunday. 

Casali went 1-for-2 on the day to raise his average to .280, but it was his second-innng sacrifice fly and eighth-inning bases loaded walk that lifted his RBI total to three on the season. 

The young catcher has been a find since cracking Tampa Bay's lineup, registering at least one hit in four of his last five starts.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal isn't in the starting lineup for Sunday's game. Grandal has started a team-high 56 games behind the plate, including six of the last seven. 

In Grandal's place, A.J. Ellis gets the start at catcher for the 25th time this year. Ellis and Grandal have split the last four starts.