MLB Player News

Gomes is starting at catcher and batting ninth in Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Tucker Barnhart started behind the plate Saturday, but Gomes will bookend the series with starts on Friday and Sunday. Gomes has an .881 OPS so far while Barnhart is at just .442, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the former continue to earn a larger share of playing time moving forward.

Fortes will start at catcher and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Cubs, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Fortes is behind the dish for the sixth time in nine games and appears to have overtaken the struggling Jacob Stallings as the Marlins' preferred option at catcher. Though he's taken a major step back from last season in the early stages of 2023 with a .188/.250/.250 slash line over 52 plate appearances, Fortes' .500 OPS is still notably better than Stallings' .429 mark.

Stallings is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Now on the bench for the fourth time in six games and the sixth time in the past nine contests, Stallings appears to have slipped to No. 2 on the depth chart at catcher behind Nick Fortes. Though he continues to grade out adequately on the defensive end, Stallings has become an even greater liability with the bat, as he enters Sunday's contest with a lowly .136/.224/.205 slash line and career-worst 28.6 percent strikeout rate over 49 plate appearances.

Barnhart is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Barnhart had drawn starts behind the dish on the last two occasions the Cubs opposed right-handed starting pitchers, but he'll take a seat Sunday against Marlins righty Bryan Hoeing, perhaps because the two teams are facing a quick turnaround for the series finale, which starts at 12:05 p.m. ET. Yan Gomes will catch for starting pitcher Justin Steele on Sunday.

Sabol went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additonal run scored in Saturday's 16-11 loss to San Diego.

Sabol tied the game in the seventh inning with a two-run shot. The 25-year-old has made a solid case for playing time behind the plate even when Joey Bart (groin) returns to the lineup, and he's 5-for-15 across his past four contests. Sabol has a .775 OPS with five home runs, 10 RBI and two steals in 20 games.

Rodriguez (forearm) was activated from the minor-league injured list with Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

The 22-year-old switch hitter had a .263/.333/.456 slash line with three home runs and an 8:6 K:BB in 14 games before suffering a forearm strain. In addition to 12 starts behind the dish, Rodriguez made one start at first base and one start at designated hitter. He could get a call-up sometime in the coming weeks if he performs well.

Bart (groin) remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Padres, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Bart has been sidelined since Monday due to tightness in his right groin, but he traveled with the Giants to Mexico City for this special two-game series and participated in a team workout Friday. Maybe he could be back in action Sunday. Blake Sabol will draw another start at catcher Saturday at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu.

Smith went 1-for-5 with two runs in a 7-3 win against the Cardinals on Friday.

Smith batted third as the Dodgers' designated hitter in his return from the injured list. He missed over two weeks while dealing with a concussion but didn't appear hampered at the plate Friday, putting the ball in play in each of his five plate appearances and reaching on an infield single in the fifth frame. Per Eric Stephen of SBNation.com, manager Dave Roberts suggested that Smith could DH again Saturday before potentially returning to backstop duties Sunday.

Ruiz is not in the lineup for the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Pirates.

Riley Adams will catch and bat eighth versus the Pirates and left-hander Rich Hill. Ruiz should be back in there for the later game against right-hander Vince Velasquez.

Smith (concussion) will be activated off the 7-day concussion list Friday and be in the lineup as the designated hitter against the Cardinals, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Smith hasn't played since April 12 while dealing with a concussion, but the All-Star backstop is ready to roll for the series against the Cardinals. He should return to catching duties for the Dodgers within the next few days.