MLB Player News

Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli left Tuesday's game against Minnesota after taking a foul ball off the mask, per the Post Gazette. 

Cervelli was replaced by Chris Stewart behind the plate to start the sixth inning.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco was able to do catching drills before Tuesday's game. Mesoraco suffered a left hip impingement in early April and hasn't played catcher since. 

Mesoraco said he was able to get into a catcher's squat about 15 times, per MLB.com. He also simulated throwing to second base, at 20 percent effort, about 15 times. 

At least I know I can get into squat position, which I hadn't done for 30-something days," Mesoraco said. "It's good. Definitely baby steps. We're not going to go crazy because those muscles haven't been used. It's going to be a slow process."

Mesoraco hopes to catch a bullpen session this weekend. 

The Mets aren't considering a trade until they get their injured starters back. Third baseman David Wright (back) and catcher Travis d'Arnaud (hand) are both on the disabled list. 

"Right now we’re not looking outside," GM Sandy Alderson said, per the New York Post. "We’re looking inside to get some of our players back and see where we are at that point."

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud took dry swings on Tuesday, as he continues recovery from the hand injury that landed him on the disabled list. 

Mets general manger Sandy Alderson said that d'Arnaud should be back later this month."I think a week is way too aggressive," he said, per NJ.com.

Indians manager Terry Francona said catcher Yan Gomes is close to returning to the team, but he needs to catch nine innings in a rehab game before being activated, reports the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

"Well, he's closing in on it," manager Terry Francona said to MLB.com. "I think that's stating the obvious, but in fairness to him, we probably need to get him out there nine [innings]. He probably doesn't feel like he needs to, but as bad as we'd like to have him -- and we do -- doing something a day or two early, that would be a bad mistake."

Gomes is on the disabled list with a sprain in his right MCL. He is scheduled to catch seven innings in a rehab game Wednesday.

"I think when you really boil it down, we need to make sure that this kid has every chance to be not just healthy with his knee … you don't want another part of his body breaking down squatting for nine innings," Francona said. "There's some common sense that [trainer] James [Quinlan] used that I wasn't seeing."

Devin Mesoraco is in the Reds' starting lineup on Tuesday against the Royals. As expected, with the team in an American League ballpark, Mesoraco will have the chance to be the designated hitter. 

Mesoraco is batting eighth in the order for manager Bryan Price. He has been limited to pinch-hit and DH duties for most of the season due to a hip impingement. He has just six hits in 39 at-bats this season. 

Price said that Mesoraco will do some catching activities on Tuesday, as he hopes to have him back behind the plate in the near future. 

Mets catcher Anthony Recker will get the start behind the plate on Tuesday against the Cardinals. With Kevin Plawecki catching all 14 innings on Monday, manager Terry Collins decided to rest the youngster in favor of Recker. 

Recker has struggled offensively in limited time, collecting five hits, including two home runs in 27 at-bats. Plawecki should return to the lineup on Wednesday.

Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto went 1 for 4 at the plate in Miami's 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks in 13 innings on Monday.

Realmuto did his damage in the seventh inning when he crushed a Rubby De La Rosa pitch over the left field wall for a two-run home run, the first of his career.

Realmuto is now hitting .227 with eight RBI in 97 at-bats this season.

Indians catcher Yan Gomes (knee) started and caught five innings Monday in a Triple-A rehab game, going 0 for 3 with two strikeouts.

Gomes is scheduled to rest Tuesday and then play seven innings on Wednesday, according to MLB.com.

Gomes went on the disabled list April 12 after spraining his right MCL, and could return to the big club soon.

"A lot of it depends how he feels," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He doesn't have to go back-to-back games. As long as he's healthy, that's the biggest thing."

Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki is back in the starting lineup on Monday against the Cardinals after getting the day off on Sunday, the team announced.

Plawecki was replaced by John Monell on Sunday. He has only started two of the last five games for New York. Plawecki is hitting .226 in 62 at-bats this season. The Mets are currently the favorites (-130) against St. Louis.