MLB Player News

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Grandal has started seven of the last eight games behind the plate but will cede catching duties to A.J. Eliis Sunday. Third baseman Juan Uribe is back in the lineup as expected, while Alex Guerrero is in left field for a second straight game but has been moved up to the fifth spot in the order after batting eighth Saturday. It's the first time this season Guerrero has slotted higher than sixth.

The Dodgers are favorites (-145) against the Diamondbacks Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

The Indians left catcher Roberto Perez out of Sunday's starting lineup. In his place, Brett Hayes will make his fifth start fo the season.

Hayes is starting his second game of the last three, and batting eighth in the lineup. 

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon is not in the lineup for the first time this season Sunday, while third baseman Martin Prado is receiving his second day off in his team's matchup with the Phillies.

Gordon has led off all season, while Prado has been the team's No. 2 hitter for the last games with Christian Yelich out. With the pair on the bench. left fielder Ichiro Suzuki will lead off against the Phillies, while shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria will bat second.

The Marlins are also giving catcher J.T. Realmuto a break after starting the team's last eight games. Jhonatan Solano will draw the start behind the plate in his place.

The Marlins are heavy favorites (-185) Sunday.

Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

The Reds are sending a tough righty to the mound in the form of Johnny Cueto, but the Braves will allow lefty-swinging Pierzynski, who has hit .377/.400/.604 in 53 at-bats and is the only Atlanta player with an OPS north of .850, a day of rest. Christian Bethancourt will draw the start behind the plate and bat seventh.

The Braves are home underdogs (+134) Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

Reds outfielders Billy Hamilton and Marlon Byrd are joining catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) on the bench for Sunday's game against the Braves.

Hamilton is getting a break after making 11 straight starts out of the leadoff spot, while Byrd has seen 11 straight starts in left field. It's just a regular day off for both players, who will get a two-day break due to the team's scheduled off-day Monday, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Both Hamilton and Byrd are available if needed Sunday. With the pair out, Skip Schumaker will lead off and play left field, while Brennan Boesch will bat seventh and play center field.

Mesoraco hasn't appeared in the starting lineup since the first week of the season, as he's continued to rehab from a left hip impingement while remaining on the active roster.

The Reds are road favorites (-142) in Atlanta with Johnny Cueto on the mound.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco has been limited to four pinch hitting appearances since he suffered a hip inpingement on April 12. 

"This is a guy who would be hitting fourth right now if he were healthy enough to be behind the plate. He's a middle-of-the-order guy," manager Bryan Price said, per Cincinnati.com. 

Mesoraco may get consistent playing time this week, as the Reds are scheduled to play an interleague series on the road against the White Sox. That means their lineup will include a designated hitter. 

The Mets gave several regulars a rest on Saturday. 

Right fielder Curtis Granderson, catcher Kevin Plawecki and shortstop Wilmer Flores are all out of the starting lineup. 

John Mayberry makes his third start of the year in right, batting leadoff. Ruben Tejada makes his fourth start at short, batting seventh. Luke Recker will catch and bat eighth. 

The knee sprain plaguing Indians catcher Yan Gomes was supposed to sideline him 6-8 weeks, but Terry Francona is encouraged by his progress.

"He's going so fast through this that the trainers are like, 'It shouldn't be this fast," Francona told the Northeast Ohio Media Group. "But he has been kind of an animal, which I don't think is shocking. I don't know if you can ever make someone heal quicker, but if hard work and intensity mean anything, he's going to be better."

Gomes did some jogging and throwing Friday and will travel with the team to Kansas City next week. He is scheduled to be out about another month.

"It's a good feeling when you have a guy that's that good that cares that much about coming back," Francona said, via MLB.com. "He wants to travel, because he wants to be with his teammates. Those are things that maybe help me feel better when you need a little bit of help."

Catcher Brett Hayes will start and bat eighth for the Indians in Friday's game against the Blue Jays. 

Hayes is replacing usual starter Roberto Perez in the lineup. This will be Hayes' third start of the season. He's only recorded one hit in 11 at-bats. 

The rest of the Indians lineup is unchanged from Thursday's game against Toronto. 

The Royals are hoping to be able to keep left fielder Alex Gordon with the team long-term, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. Gordon currently has a player option for 2016, valued at $13.25 million, though expecations are he will decline the option and look to secure a bigger contract.

Gordon, a Nebraska-native, is currently batting .303 with three home runs and 13 RBI in his first 19 games of the 2015 season. 

The Royals are also considering a contract extension for catcher Salvador Perez, who is currently signed through 2016 (with club options for 17-19). Though as Heyman notes, they will likely wait until the offseason to begin theoe discussions.