MLB Player News

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Alvarez will receive a breather while the Mets close out their series versus the Cubs with a day game after a night game. Luis Torrens will replace Alvarez behind the dish, forming a battery with starting pitcher Griffin Canning.

Bart went 4-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's 3-2 extra-innings loss to Atlanta.

All four knocks were singles, but it was still an impressive way for the backstop to snap a 2-for-20 beginning to the month of May. Bart has been handling a hefty workload so far this season, in part due to the absence of Endy Rodriguez (finger), and through 98 plate appearances he's slashing .286/.412/.378 with one homer, seven runs and eight RBI. If Bart can find a way to pair last year's power display with his newfound patience, he could be headed for a big summer.

Smith isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Smith is 1-for-11 with four strikeouts in his career against Arizona starter Corbin Burnes. The 30-year-old backstop will step out of the lineup Saturday while Austin Barnes starts behind the dish and bats ninth.

Herrera isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Washington.

Herrera went 1-for-4 with two RBI in his return from the injured list Friday, and he'll get a day off Saturday as the Cardinals look to ease him back into regular action. Pedro Pages will start behind the plate and bat eighth.

Hicks went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's loss to the White Sox.

Starting at DH and batting seventh, Hicks took Caleb Freeman deep in the seventh inning, briefly tying the game at 2-2 before Max Meyer faded in the bottom of the frame. Hicks is still seeing semi-regular playing time even with Agustin Ramirez in the majors and Nick Fortes back from the IL, and the Rule 5 pick has gone yard in back-to-back starts while starting in three of the first seven contests in May. On the season, Hicks is slashing .254/.338/.433 with three homers, eight runs and 18 RBI in 79 plate appearances.

Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in a 13-9 win against Colorado on Friday.

Maldonado's long ball was a fifth-inning two-run shot to left field that gave the Padres a 10-1 lead. It was his first homer since April 6 -- a span of 16 games. Maldonado's .207/.233/.328 slash line is far from impressive, but if he keeps up this pace he'll finish with a batting average above the Mendoza Line for the first time since 2020. The veteran backstop has started four of San Diego's past seven games behind the plate, with Elias Diaz starting the other three.

Goodman went 3-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 13-9 loss to the Padres.

It was the third time this season that Goodman ripped multiple extra-base hits, and Friday marked his first three-hit attack of the year. The 25-year-old catcher has now hit safely in 10 of his last 11 outings, batting .318 (14-for-44) with eight RBI and four runs scored in that span. Between catcher and designated hitter, Goodman has been playing nearly every day to begin 2025. His .277 batting average on the season ranks third among qualifying catchers in the major leagues.

Realmuto is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Guardians.

Realmuto fouled a ball off his foot Wednesday and was forced to leave the game but returned to the starting lineup Thursday. Friday appears to be a routine day off for the veteran catcher, as Rafael Marchan is behind the dish and batting ninth for the Phillies. Realmuto is slashing .237/.313/.373 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 12 runs scored and four stolen bases on the season.

Herrera is starting at designated hitter and batting sixth in Friday's game against the Nationals.

It's Herrera's first game with the Cardinals in more than a month as he returns from a left knee bone bruise. While Herrera will see the bulk of the reps at catcher against right-handed pitching, he could be the primary DH versus lefties after the previous holder of that title -- Luken Baker -- was optioned to Triple-A Memphis. The Nationals are starting southpaw Mitchell Parker in Friday's series opener.

The Cardinals reinstated Herrera (knee) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

The 24-year-old backstop has been cleared to rejoin the big-league roster after a six-game rehab assignment, during which he went 9-for-23 with a homer, a double and two stolen bases. The two steals are an especially encouraging sign that Herrera has fully recovered from the knee bruise that has sidelined him for the past month. Herrera clubbed four homers in seven games prior to the injury and will reclaim the starting job behind the plate, with Pedro Pages and Yohel Pozo serving as secondary options.