MLB Player News

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Ruiz's absence from the lineup doesn't appear to be anything more than a rest day, considering that he made three starts (two at catcher, one at designated hitter) during the Nationals' series sweep of the Reds over the weekend. Riley Adams will step in for Ruiz behind the dish Monday.

Sanchez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers.

The Padres and Dodgers are concluding their four-game series with a rare Monday day game after a Sunday night game, so Sanchez will get a breather after he was behind the plate for both of the previous two contests while going 3-for-7 with a solo home run, a double, a walk and an additional run. Luis Campusano will draw the start at catcher Monday, but Sanchez still appears to be the Padres' preferred option at the position for now.

Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Brewers.

Rodriguez tallied his second multi-hit effort and his first three-hit game since he was called up in mid-July. The 23-year-old has gotten off to a slow start in his first taste at the major-league level, as he's now slashing .231/.286/.462 with two homers, seven RBI, eight runs and a 4:20 BB:K in 56 plate appearances. Rodriguez should get all the playing time he can handle down the stretch, with his only competition behind the dish being Jason Delay, who has made two starts since being called up Aug. 1.

Smith is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Smith started the past eight games and will receive a day off after going 5-for-28 during that stretch. Austin Barnes will take over behind the plate and bat ninth Sunday.

Fortes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Fortes started behind the dish in both of the previous two games and appears to have moved ahead of Jacob Stallings in the pecking order at catcher. However, with the Marlins and Rangers concluding their series with a day game after a night game, Fortes will get a breather while Stallings catches for starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara.

Herrera is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.

Though he'll be on the bench for the series finale, Herrera appears to have moved ahead of Carson Kelly on the depth chart at catcher after being called up from Triple-A Reno on July 23 as a replacement for the injured Gabriel Moreno (shoulder). Herrera has started behind the dish in seven of the last 11 games but has mustered a lowly .296 OPS.

Gomes is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Gomes started the past four games and will head to the bench Sunday after going 1-for-15 during that stretch. Miguel Amaya will take over behind the plate and bat ninth.

Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Contreras went 2-for-7 with a double, two RBI and a run across the first two games against the Rockies and will take a seat for Sunday's series finale. Andrew Knizner is starting behind the plate and batting eighth.

Murphy is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Murphy started the first two games of the series in Chicago but will head to the bench for Sunday's finale. Travis d'Arnaud will step in behind the plate and bat fifth.

The Nationals reinstated Pineda (oblique) from the 60-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Pineda has spent the entire season on the IL due to the left oblique strain, though he was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in late May before being shut down soon thereafter due to a setback. The 23-year-old catcher was cleared to return to game action in the minors coming out of the All-Star break and will ultimately settle at the Double-A level now that his 20-day rehab window has come to an end. Washington granted right-hander Paolo Espino his unconditional release to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Pineda.