MLB Player News

Rodriguez is slashing .391/.481/.717 with four home runs and three doubles over his last 11 contests at Double-A Springfield.

Rodriguez was promoted from High-A Peoria to Springfield in mid-May and needed an initial adjustment period, hitting only .182 with one long ball in his first 21 games. The top prospect has now found his rhythm, and he's one of the hottest hitters in the Texas League at just 19 years of age. Between the two levels this season, Rodriguez boasts a .284/.394/.463 line with nine home runs, a 13.1 percent walk rate and a 22.6 percent strikeout rate.

Susac exited Thursday's contest against the Athletics in the sixth inning as a result of back tightness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Susac was forced out of the game ahead of his at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, ultimately being replaced by Eric Haase behind the plate. Susac finished his day having gone 0-for-2 with a strikeout. He should be considered day-to-day ahead of Friday's series opener at home against Atlanta.

Kelly isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

Kelly has gone 6-for-15 with 10 RBI and nine runs scored across his last four games, but the Cubs will keep him on the bench to begin Thursday's contest while Miguel Amaya starts behind the plate.

Moreno is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Cardinals.

Moreno sat for the series opener versus the Cardinals on Monday and then went 2-for-6 with two walks and an RBI across Tuesday's and Wednesday's contests. As he sits for the series finale Thursday, Adrian Del Castillo will get the start behind the plate while batting cleanup.

Crooks is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

The left-handed-hitting Crooks didn't start the previous two days due to Arizona having a lefty on the mound. He's absent from Thursday's lineup because Ivan Herrera has been Michael McGreevy's personal catcher this season. Crooks had started six of seven contests prior to this three-game run with no starts, so it's been an inconsistent stretch of playing time for the rookie catcher.

Alvarez went 3-for-7 with a walk and two solo home runs across both ends of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Cubs.

After taking Javier Assad deep in the matinee, Alvarez crushed a Shota Imanaga fastball over the fence in left-center field during the nightcap. The 24-year-old catcher has homered in three straight games, giving him eight on the year. Over 50 plate appearances since returning to the lineup in early June from knee surgery, he's delivered a .319/.360/.574 slash line with four homers and eight RBI.

Rodriguez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Mariners.

Rodriguez started each of the previous three games at catcher, so he's earned a breather during Thursday's matinee. Henry Davis is doing the catching and batting ninth for the Pirates.

Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI, a run scored and a walk Wednesday against the Mariners.

Rodriguez continues to serve as Pittsburgh's top catcher, with Wednesday marking his third straight start and ninth in the last 13 games. He's made the most of the opportunity, going 10-for-33 with two homers, six RBI and five runs scored in that span. Rodriguez contributed to the Pirates' blowout win Wednesday with an RBI single in the first inning and a two-RBI double three frames later.

Bart went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to San Diego.

Bart was traded to Atlanta from Pittsburgh last Thursday and has played in four games with his new team. He collected his first two hits for Atlanta on Wednesday, including a sixth-inning homer that accounted for the club's only runs. On the year, the catcher is batting .246 with a .665 OPS, three homers, nine RBI, 10 runs scored and a double over 25 contests. Bart is likely to fill a backup role behind Drake Baldwin, though with Baldwin struggling lately, Bart could poach some starts against left-handed pitchers.

Contreras went 3-for-3 with a home run, two walks, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Reds.

Contreras was a pest all night, reaching base in each of his five plate appearances while launching a two-run homer in the third inning. Over his past five games, the 28-year-old has gone deep twice while posting three multi-hit efforts. For the year, he's slashing .302/.365/.427 with eight long balls, 48 RBI, 45 runs scored and a stolen base across 323 plate appearances.