MLB Player News

Knizner went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Reds.

Miles Mikolas and Luke Weaver traded zeroes for the bulk of seven innings, making for a low-event game. Knizner was the only Cardinal with multiple hits, his fourth such effort in May. He also logged a steal in the ninth inning, his first since 2019. Knizner had a run of playing time when Willson Contreras was moved to designated hitter earlier in the month, but Knizner's been on the bench for much of the last week. He's slashing .230/.260/.419 with three home runs, 10 RBI and 10 runs scored over 78 plate appearances, and he's unlikely to see more than a backup role as long as Contreras remains healthy.

Diaz went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run Thursday against the Marlins.

Diaz took Braxton Garrett deep in the sixth inning for his sixth homer of the season and second in as many games. He's clearly taken over as the top catcher in Colorado across the first two months of the season, though Diaz was in the lineup as the designated hitter Thursday with a southpaw on the mound and Charlie Blackmon on the bench. That could be a continuing path to extra playing time for Diaz, who has maintained an impressive .398 wOBA across 164 plate appearances this year.

Marchan (hand/wrist) is on track to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Sunday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Marchan suffered a fractured right hamate bone at Phillies camp this spring, but he has made steady progress since undergoing surgery and is about ready for live competition. The 24-year-old catcher could eventually challenge Garrett Stubbs for the backup job behind J.T. Realmuto.

Nido (eye) was activated from the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Having solved his vision issues via punctal plugs and medicated eye drops, Nido is back on the Mets' active roster ahead of Thursday night's series finale at Wrigley Field. Gary Sanchez has been designated for assignment in a corresponding roster move, which pits Nido as the backup to hot-hitting catcher Francisco Alvarez.

The Mets designated Sanchez for assignment Thursday.

With fellow catcher Tomas Nido (eye) returning from the 10-day injured list Thursday, Sanchez has been cast off the 40-man roster and will likely head back to Triple-A. He holds a .671 OPS through 106 minor-league plate appearances.

Contreras isn't in the Brewers' lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.

With lefty Scott Alexander opening ahead of the right-handed Jakob Junis for San Francisco, the Brewers will sit Contreras on Thursday in favor of the switch-hitting Victor Caratini.

Nola is out of the lineup again Thursday against the Nationals.

Brett Sullivan will make a second straight start at catcher and could continue to get regular looks versus right-handed pitching opponents, though neither backstop has been particularly productive with the bat this year. It's a situation to avoid in standard fantasy leagues.

Ruiz is not in the lineup Thursday against the Padres.

It's a late-afternoon start in Washington following a night game Wednesday in which Ruiz went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, so the 24-year-old will receive some rest. Riley Adams will catch and bat eighth Thursday versus the Padres and lefty Blake Snell.

Contreras is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Cincinnati, 101 ESPN St. Louis reports.

It's a day game after a night game, so Andrew Knizner will do the catching for Miles Mikolas. Contreras is in the midst of a 1-for-24 slide at the dish.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's loss to the Cubs.

Alvarez accounted for all of New York's runs Wednesday with his two-run homer in the third inning. It was his third long ball over his past four contests, a span in which the backstop is hitting .462 (6-for-13) with seven RBI and no strikeouts. The injured Tomas Nido (eye) and Omar Narvaez (calf) may be ready to return to the Mets soon, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Alvarez continue to hold down primary catcher duties given his recent offensive surge.