MLB Player News

Reds speedster Billy Hamilton had been successful on all nine of his stolen bases this season until Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado threw him out in the sixth inning Thursday.

It marked the first time all year that a Cincinnati steal attempt was thwarted. The team was 17-for-17 before Hamilton was nailed.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters that knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will not have a designated personal catcher while Dioner Navarro is on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury, per the National Post.

Navarro was Dickey's battery mate this season. Toronto called up Josh Thole from Triple-A, who is familiar with Dickey's work. He caught the majority of the knuckleballer's starts during his run with the Mets. Gibbons said he's leaning on having Thole behind the plate catching Dickey on Friday, per Sportsnet.ca.

Veteran A.J. Pierzynski is not supposed to be the starting catcher for the Braves. But maybe he is. Sort of.

The ambiguity is coming from Pierzynski himself, who seems to be wresting the job away from Christian Bethancourt. The former not only played Wednesday night, but also in an afternoon game Thursday.

Pierzynski has simply outperformed Bethancourt at the plate. His three-hit game Wednesday raised his average to .391 with three home runs, five RBI and an .826 slugging percentage. He's on a six-game hitting streak and is one start on the year behind Bethancourt, who was the declared starter before the season began.

"He's swinging it," Fredi Gonzalez told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "...He's not your normal prototypical catcher-backup guy that'll only catch 20, 30 games a year."

The Blue Jays have promoted catcher Josh Thole from Triple-A Buffalo. Thole will serve as the backup to Russell Martin while Dioner Navarro is on the mend.

Thole batted .248 with no home runs in 133 at-bats for Toronto a year ago.

One regular has returned, but another is getting a day off Thursday for the Pirates.

Shortstop Jordy Mercer is back in the lineup against the Cubs after being sidelined since Monday with a rib injury. He hopes to bring a hotter bat - he is in a 1-for-15 slump

Meanwhile, starting catcher Francisco Cervelli is catching a break for a day game following a night game. Chris Stewart will squat behind the plate instead.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) did not return to the starting lineup Thursday against the Brewers. Tucker Barnhart started at catcher for the Reds.

Mesoraco has not started since April 11. He did make a pinch-hit appearance Tuesday.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg chose to rest four of his starters for Thursday's day game against the Marlins.

First baseman Ryan Howard, second baseman Chase Utley, shortstop Freddy Galvis and catcher Carlos Ruiz were all held out of the starting lineup. Darin Ruf started at first base, Cesar Hernandez started at second base, Andres Blanco started at shortstop and Cameron Rupp started at catcher.

Ruiz (.184), Howard (.196) and Utley (.120) are all batting below the Mendoza Line (.200). Galvis is batting .300 (15 for 50) with one double, one triple, one home run and eight RBI through 14 games.

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis is in the starting lineup and batting eighth Wednesday against the Giants, pushing Yasmani Grandal to the bench.

Ellis will make just his fifth start of the year and is hitting .143 with a double in 14 at-bats this season. 

The Marlins will continue to use Jacob Realmuto at catcher Wednesday against the Phillies, his third straight start behind the plate.

Realmuto continues to start over Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is just 2 for 25 with a home run to start the season. Realmuto is hitting .278 with two doubles and two RBI in 18 at-bats this season. The Marlins are currently the underdogs (+123) against Philadelphia.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco was held out of the starting lineup Tuesday night against Milwaukee, per the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Mesoraco has been out of the starting lineup since April 12 because of a left hip impingement, but made a pinch-hit appearance on Tuesday against Milwaukee. He told reporters on Tuesday that his playing status moving forward would be up to the team's medical staff.

"Hitting's not like riding a bike, but it's not like you have to re-learn how to swing a bat," Reds manager Bryan Price said to MLB.com. "It's timing more than anything, and it's impossible to simulate what it's like to face Major League pitching when you're not playing. I was impressed by the at-bat for sure. He was on time, and I'm sure he'd love to be in there.

Brayan Pena will bat seventh in his place on Wednesday.