34 James McCann C

McCann is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers.

McCann will head to the bench for a breather after starting five straight games at backstop. He has been hot at the dish lately, turning three consecutive multi-hit efforts, so he'll look to keep things rolling when he returns to the lineup. John Hicks will take over catching duties in his place, batting seventh.

McCann went 2-for-5 with a double, a homer, three runs and five RBI Saturday against the Twins.

McCann blasted his 11th homer of the season to provide the Tigers with a five-run the lead in the first inning of the game they'd eventually win. Although he's not a great fantasy option, his .251/.320/.448 slash line is more than serviceable for a catcher.

McCann is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Pirates.

McCann will receive a routine rest day after he handled catching duties for the first two games of the series. Backup John Hicks will enter the lineup, working in a battery with starting pitcher Justin Verlander.

McCann is out of the lineup Sunday against the Orioles.

It's a well-deserved day off for McCann, who had logged catching duties for each of the previous seven games, going 10-for-28 (.357 average) with a home run and four RBI in those contests. The backstop has been on fire since the All-Star break and will continue to hold down a full-time role for the Tigers the rest of the way following the trade of Alex Avila to the Cubs, making McCann an attractive pickup in leagues that start two catchers, if not formats shallower than that. John Hicks will spell McCann in the series finale.

McCann will start at catcher and bat eighth Monday against the Yankees.

After fellow backstop Alex Avila was traded to the Cubs earlier Monday, McCann looks bound to see regular duties behind the plate for the final two months of the season. The 27-year-old season line of .242/.319/.456 is rather modest, but he's elevated his production since the All-Star break, going 14-for-33 (.424 average) with five extra-base hits and five RBI. With his playing time looking stable the rest of the way, McCann could make for a decent pickup in deeper mixed leagues or two-catcher formats where he's still available.