MLB Player News

McCann went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run, a walk and two additional runs in a loss to the Rangers on Tuesday.

The reserve backstop continues to parlay his occasional opportunities into standout offensive production, with Tuesday's impressive day pushing his average and OPS to .393 and 1.235, respectively, across 33 plate appearances. While the small-sample caveat certainly applies, it's difficult to dismiss how quickly McCann seems to have acclimated to big-league arms after displaying impressive bat skills at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels the last two seasons. Shea Langeliers remains the top backstop at the moment and certainly has the edge in terms of knowledge of the pitching staff, but given the expansive gulf in offensive performance between the two thus far, it's conceivable McCann could progressively carve out more consistent opportunities.

Delay (knee) caught a bullpen session Wednesday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

It would appear to be the first time he's done so since undergoing surgery in mid-April to repair the meniscus in his right knee. Delay is expected to miss most, if not all, of the rest of the first half as he recovers.

The Cardinals recalled Pages from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

Pages will make his first major-league start Wednesday versus the Mets, serving as the Cardinals' catcher while batting eighth. He will serve primarily as Ivan Herrera's backup over the next several weeks after Willson Contreras (forearm) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

The Cardinals placed Contreras on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Contreras fractured his left forearm when he was struck by J.D. Martinez's bat on a catcher's interference call during Tuesday's 7-5 loss. He will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair the fracture and is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks. Ivan Herrera will be the Cardinals' primary catcher while Contreras is out, while Pedro Pages has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis to take Contreras' roster spot and serve as the team's No. 2 backstop.

Perez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Brewers.

Perez will receive a rare breather during the afternoon game. Freddy Fermin will fill in at catcher while Perez gets some rest.

Grandal is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.

Grandal will get a breather for the day game after he was behind the plate for all nine innings of Tuesday's 9-0 loss. Joey Bart will step in for Grandal as the Pirates' starting catcher.

Naylor is out of the lineup for Wednesday's tilt versus the Tigers.

Naylor had started each of the previous six contests but will take a seat for Wednesday's afternoon game. Austin Hedges will serve as the Guardians' starting catcher.

Heim went 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored in Tuesday's 15-8 win over Oakland.

Heim extended a hit streak to five games, during which he's 10-for-17 with four walks, four RBI and eight runs scored. The catcher ranks third on the team with 22 RBI and fifth in runs (16) over 31 contests. With a doubleheader coming up Wednesday, Heim will likely sit out the matinee.

Stephenson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Stephenson's ninth-inning home run was way too late for the Reds, who logged just three hits and lost their sixth consecutive contest. Cincinnati's middle-of-the-order bats have not produced of late, which has prompted manager David Bell to move Stephenson to cleanup in the three starts since he returned from a hand injury last week.

Jeffers went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run during Tuesday's 10-6 loss to the Mariners.

Jeffers tagged Emerson Hancock for a three-run shot in the third inning to put the Twins ahead 4-2. The long ball was his second in as many games and extended his streak of games with an extra-base hit to six. During that stretch, Jeffers is 7-for-22 (.318) with eight RBI and four runs scored.