News: Dodgers catcher
A.J. Ellis took part in a big collision at home plate Friday, as Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay barreled into him and left him lying on the ground for several minutes. Luckily, Ellis appears to have gotten out of the collision with just some stiffness and a bruise after being looked over by trainers.
"We were just taking inventory," Ellis told the Los Angeles Times. "Asking questions and working our way through the extremities. The only thing I really felt, and I still feel it now, is from watching the replay his knee made contact with my forearm. I have a pretty good bruise in my right forearm."
Ellis expects to play Saturday, and he has sat out just nine games this season.
Analysis:
News: Yankees catcher
Chris Stewart returned to the lineup Friday after missing a week with a groin injury, getting two hits in four at-bats while scoring a run and driving in a run.
The two-hit game gives Stewart his highest batting average since the end of April. He has hit .278/.316/.403 with three home runs in 72 at-bats.
Analysis:
News: Twins catcher
Joe Mauer broke up a no-hit bid by Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez in the ninth inning Friday, finishing 1 for 4 with two strikeouts.
The hit gives Mauer a .337/.412/.471 line with two home runs in 172 at-bats. He's 3 for 9 in the Tigers' series as the teams head into the weekend.
Analysis:
News: Soon after his two-homer game Monday, I said
Yan Gomes wasn't worth the trouble in Fantasy because he's a backup catcher. But he has homered once since then and seems to be getting more playing time, having started four of the Indians' last seven games.
Now, part of the reason was because Nick Swisher missed three games for the birth of his daughter. But Gomes clearly made an impression in Swisher's absence, and manager Terry Francona was singing his praises even before then.
Given the versatility up and down their lineup -- from Swisher to Carlos Santana to Mark Reynolds to Gomes himself -- the Indians could find creative ways to keep giving Gomes at-bats, perhaps sitting Drew Stubbs or Michael Brantley occasionally for him. He's most likely looking at no more than 3-4 starts per week, but as a poor man's Evan Gattis, he could factor in leagues that require starting two catchers.
Analysis:
News: Nationals catcher
Wilson Ramos is recovering well from his left hamstring injury and has been receiving treatment and working out over the last few days. CSNWashington.com reported Friday that Ramos is still likely to
need a few days more than the minimum of 15 days before he is ready to come back from the disabled list. Ramos has been out since May 16, the second time he has hit the DL dating to April.
Analysis:
News: The Red Sox have optioned
Ryan Lavarnway to
Triple-A Pawtucket, the
Boston Globe reports Friday.
Lavarnway went 1 for 7 in two games while reserve catcher David Ross was on the seven-day concussion disabled list. Ross' return Friday means Lavarnway heads back to the minors.
Analysis:
News: Despite losing his everyday role recently, Braves catcher
Evan Gattis has not slowed his assault on National League pitching. After homering for the second game in a row Wednesday, Gattis now has 10 on the season, in just 121 at-bats.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Gattis leads rookies in extra-base hits (20), home runs, RBI (27) and slugging percentage (.587), while ranking second in on-base plus slugging percentage (.895).
Gattis has started just one of the team's last five games, despite hitting three home runs in that span.
Analysis:
News: The Red Sox have activated catcher
David Ross from
the seven-day concussion disabled list, the
Boston Globe reports.
Ross has been out since May 11. He will return to a backup role behind Jarrod Saltalamacchia. He's hitting .209/.320/.512 in 43 at-bats, including four home runs.
Analysis:
News: Returning from a bruised hip, Royals catcher
Salvador Perez went 3 for 4 with an RBI before being removed for a pinch runner in the ninth inning of a 5-4 loss to the Angels Thursday. It was Perez's eighth multi-hit game in May, raising his season line to .320/.336/.422 with a home run in 152 plate appearances.
Analysis:
News: Blue Jays catcher
J.P. Arencibia drove in four runs in Thursday's 12-6 victory over the Orioles.
Arencibia doubled in a run in the fourth, had a two-run home run in the fifth and scored his fourth run of the night on a ground out in the eighth inning. He finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored.
Arencibia has three homers in his last 13 games. He is hitting .230/.244/.479 with 11 home runs and 24 RBI in 165 at-bats.
Analysis:
