MLB Player News

Wallach was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans on Tuesday, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Wallach split time with Bryan Holaday behind the plate to start the season, but the 26-year-old could only produce four hits in 31 at-bats (.129 batting average). With J.T. Realmuto returning from the disabled list, Wallach is no longer needed on the big-league roster, so he'll retreat to the minors to act as organizational depth.

Barnhart is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.

Barnhart will head to the bench for a breather after starting each of the previous three games behind the dish and going 3-for-11 with two walks, two RBI and two runs scored. Devin Mesoraco will pick up the start at catcher and hit sixth.

Ruiz went 2-for-5 with two home runs in Monday's game for Double-A Tulsa.

This was a much-needed slump buster for one of the game's top catching prospects, as the two home runs represented his first two extra-base hits of the season. He is now hitting .225/.262/.375 through 42 plate appearances, although he has had some bad luck on balls in play (.226 BABIP). His strikeout rate (16.7 percent) remains elite, and he is the second-youngest hitter in the Texas League (behind Fernando Tatis), so there is no cause for concern. Ruiz turns 20 in July.

Grandal homered and knocked in five runs in a 2-for-4 game Monday against the Padres.

Grandal extended his hit streak to six games and already has three games in 2018 with a double and a home run. His batting line sits at an absurd .372/.460/.651 as he continues to put an otherwise sluggish Dodgers squad on his back.

Knizner is 11-for-29 (.379) with six RBI, four extra-base hits, three walks and three strikeouts at Double-A Springfield.

The 22-year-old is building off a stellar season from last year, where he slashed .324/.371/.462 across 51 games at Double-A Springfield. Knizner has actually decreased his strikeout rate this year (13.4 percent to 10.3 percent) while dramatically increasing his ISO (.138 to .231). Knizner has also looked solid behind the plate, which is the main area where he is said to lag behind Carson Kelly. If he keeps hitting this well, Knizner will rise fast through the rest of the Cardinals' system, and he could surpass Kelly as the heir apparent to Yadier Molina.

Realmuto (back) could return Tuesday against the Yankees, Craig Davis of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Realmuto has been out since the start of the season with a back contusion. He is with the team Monday in New York but wasn't activated prior to Monday's game. He'll be evaluated by the team and could be back Tuesday. The 27-year-old has hit .290 over the past two seasons, and his 20 stolen bases are eight more than any other catcher over that time span.

Realmuto (back) went 3-for-3 with a home run and a double in a rehab game Sunday for High-A Jupiter in the club's 18-13 win over Daytona.

The ball was flying out of the yard Sunday in Daytona, as Realmuto hit one of the Florida State League-record 11 home runs the two sides combined for on the afternoon. It's expected that Realmuto will make at least one more appearance with Jupiter before being activated from the 10-day disabled list, likely at some point during the Marlins' four-game series in Milwaukee that begins Thursday.

Grandal is not in the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Grandal will get the day off after starting each of the team's past three games, going 5-for-11 with a homer and two RBI in the process. Austin Barnes draws the start and will bat sixth in his stead.

Realmuto (back) will likely rejoin the Marlins during their upcoming road trip, but manager Don Mattingly is unsure whether it will be in New York or Milwaukee, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

Miami has a two-game set in New York on Monday and Tuesday, and then a four-game series in Milwaukee to close out the week, and it sounds like Realmuto will be back at some point during that stretch. Realmuto began a rehab assignment with High-A Jupiter on Saturday. He is a risky start in leagues with weekly lineups, as he could play as many as four or five games, and as few as one or none.

Contreras is not in the lineup Sunday against the Braves.

Contreras went 1-for-5 with two RBI in Saturday's historic comeback victory over the Braves. He'll now be given the day off with Victor Caratini set to take over behind the plate. Contreras should return to the lineup Monday against the Cardinals.