MLB Player News

Naylor went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 10-6 win over the Royals.

Naylor was stuck in a 1-for-19 funk over his previous six games. This was his third multi-hit effort in 15 contests this season. The 23-year-old catcher has struggled to adjust to major-league pitching, batting just.196 with a 5:18 BB:K so far this year. He's added a home run, five RBI, eight runs scored and two doubles through 56 plate appearances.

Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Mariners.

Maldonado provided a clutch hit, giving Houston the lead with his eighth-inning solo shot. Prior to Saturday, he had gone 0-for-18 with one walk over his last six games. The catcher is batting a career-low .169 with a .540 OPS, six homers, 14 RBI and 16 runs scored through 66 contests. He hasn't lost much playing time despite his poor numbers, as the Astros appear content to let Yainer Diaz get the bulk of his at-bats at designated hitter while Yordan Alvarez (oblique) is out.

Bethancourt will sit Saturday against Atlanta, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bethancourt has looked like the Rays' clear top catcher over the last two weeks, starting eight of 11 games behind the plate prior to Saturday's contest. That run immediately followed a stretch in which Bethancourt and Francisco Mejia alternated starts for 12 consecutive games, however, so it's not clear that Bethancourt will start much more than half of Tampa Bay's games after the All-Star break.

Raleigh will sit Saturday against the Astros.

Raleigh broke out to the tune of a .773 OPS last season and maintained a similar .763 OPS through the end of May, but he's been in a rut since the start of June. In 26 games, he's hit .200/.273/.322. Tom Murphy will take over behind the plate Saturday.

Hedges isn't in the Pirates' lineup Saturday against Arizona.

Hedges has started to turn things around since the start of July, going 4-for-12 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored over five games. He'll get a breather Saturday while Jason Delay starts behind the dish and bats ninth.

Perez will be on the bench during Saturday's game against the Guardians.

Perez will hit the bench after starting four consecutive games behind the plate. His numbers suggest he's probably looking forward to the All-Star break, as he's gone 3-for-40 at the plate over his last 11 games. Freddy Fermin will be Saturday's catcher.

Vazquez will be on the bench Saturday as the Twins host the Orioles.

Vazquez is ahead of Ryan Jeffers in the pecking order behind the plate, but not by much. In the last 20 games, Vazquez has the edge in starts by an 11-9 margin. Jeffers' .801 OPS is far better than Vazquez's .561 mark, however, so there's no guarantee Vazquez remains the top option in the second half.

Jansen will sit Saturday against the Tigers.

Jansen has swung the bat well since returning from a groin injury in mid-June, slashing .268/.305/.536 with four homers in 19 games. He'll rest Saturday with Alejandro Kirk starting behind the dish.

Diaz isn't in the Rockies' lineup Saturday against the Giants, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Diaz is just 3-for-18 with five strikeouts since the beginning of July, so he'll get a breather Saturday to regroup. Austin Wynns will take Diaz's place behind the dish and bat ninth.

Grandal will sit Saturday against St. Louis.

Grandal finds himself on the bench for the fourth time in six games. He's been in a slump recently, slasing .174/.255/.239 across his last 17 games. Seby Zavala will get the start behind the plate.