MLB Player News

Bart (groin) said he might be available off the bench Tuesday against the Cardinals, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Bart is not in the Giants' starting lineup Tuesday after making an early exit from Monday's series opener versus the Cardinals due to right groin tightness. He underwent an MRI that fortunately ruled out any structural damage. Blake Sabol is getting the start at catcher and batting eighth Tuesday, but this should not be an extended absence for Bart.

Manager Dave Roberts said Smith (concussion) is slated to take live batting practice Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

After taking part in agility work Tuesday, Smith will take what appears to be another step forward in his recovery from a concussion by facing pitching. The Dodgers don't plan to activate Smith for the team's three-game series in Pittsburgh, but he could be ready to return from the 7-day injured list ahead of Friday's series opener versus the Cardinals in Los Angeles.

Bart (groin) isn't in the Giants' lineup Tuesday against the Cardinals, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Bart was removed from Monday's contest due to right groin tightness, and he will be held out Tuesday as well. In his absence, Blake Sabol will take over behind the plate and bat eighth.

Barnhart is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres.

Barnhart will be on the bench for the second straight game, with both absences coming with the Cubs facing left-handed pitchers. Though Yan Gomes has logged 25 more plate appearances this season, Barnhart appears to have taken hold of a strong-side platoon role at catcher. Twenty-six of Barnhart's 28 plate appearances to date have come versus right-handed pitching, while Gomes has made only 31 of his 53 plate appearances against righties.

Nido is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Nationals.

Even though the Mets were off Monday, Nido will take a seat for the second straight game, as rookie Francisco Alvarez draws another turn behind the dish. Since Alvarez was called up from Triple-A Syracuse on April 7, Nido has taken on the bulk of the starts by virtue of his defensive acumen, but the veteran's anemic .281 OPS on the season could make it difficult for him to justify hanging on to the No. 1 role. Alvarez (.148/.148/.259 slash line in 27 plate appearances) hasn't stood out at the plate since being called up, either, but he'll be rewarded with another start after slugging a home run in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Giants.

Alvarez is starting at catcher and batting ninth Tuesday against the Nationals.

Alvarez connected for his first major-league homer of the season in Sunday's series finale against the Giants and will be rewarded with a second straight start behind the dish as the Mets open a three-game set versus Washington. Tomas Nido is sitting.

Realmuto is batting fifth Tuesday night against the Mariners.

Realmuto has been slumping a bit lately and got pushed down to the sixth spot in the Phillies' lineup for a stretch, but he'll jump into the No. 5 slot Tuesday versus the Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert. Brandon Marsh is batting eighth in this one.

Smith (concussion) went through agility drills Tuesday in Pittsburgh, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has already stated that Smith won't be activated during the team's three-game series against the Pirates that runs through Thursday, but it's a good sign the 28-year-old catcher is traveling with the team and now doing baseball activities. He could perhaps return from the 7-day injured list over the weekend.

Delay is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Dodgers.

Delay had a brief run as the Pirates' No. 1 catcher earlier this month while Austin Hedges was on the 7-day concussion injured list, but Delay has faded back into a reserve role since Hedges was activated about a week and a half ago. Hedges has now picked up seven of the last nine starts at catcher for Pittsburgh.

Bart left Monday's game against the Cardinals due to right groin tightness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bart was lifted from the contest in the seventh inning of Monday's clash, and he'll likely be re-evaluated Tuesday morning to determine his availability for the second game of the series. If he's unable to go, look for Blake Sabol to take over behind the dish.