MLB Player News

Caratini went 4-for-4 with one run scored in Saturday's loss against the Padres.

Carantini has gotten limited playing time to begin the season as the backup catcher, but the 29-year-old took advantage of a start Saturday against his former with the four-hit effort. With a career .673 OPS over parts of seven seasons, it's unlikely there are too many more of these games coming for Caratini for the rest of the campaign.

Smith (illness) remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Cubs.

Smith was absent from Friday's series opener because of an illness and will take at least one more day of rest. Austin Barnes is starting at catcher and batting ninth on Jackie Robinson Day at Dodger Stadium.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Saturday that d'Arnaud (concussion) still isn't doing much in terms of baseball activities, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

D'Arnaud is nearly a full week removed from landing on the 7-day concussion IL, but it's at least the fourth concussion he has suffered in his playing career and so it's likely to continue to be a slow-moving recovery process. The 34-year-old had gone 11-for-33 (.333) out of the gate this season for the reigning NL East champs.

Campusano went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday in a loss to Milwaukee.

The Padres fell behind early and never came close to catching up, but Campusano provided a small spark with his solo homer to left field in the fifth inning. The long ball was the first of the season for the 24-year-old, who is working in a backup role behind Austin Nola. Campusano is slashing .238/.227/.429 through 22 plate appearances, while Nola has struggled to a great extent with the bat.

Alvarez is starting at catcher and batting ninth Saturday against the Athletics.

It's just his third start in seven possible games since his callup from Triple-A Syracuse last Friday, and all three of those starts have been behind the plate. Alvarez has yet to work into the DH mix for the Mets.

Realmuto is out of the lineup Saturday against the Reds.

It's likely just a routine day of rest for Realmuto. Garrett Stubbs is getting the start at catcher and batting ninth versus the Reds and right-hander Graham Ashcraft.

Murphy went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run and three RBI in Friday's win over the Royals.

After a two-run double in the second inning, Murphy crushed his second homer of the season off Brady Singer in the fifth inning. The catcher may have been pressing a bit to begin his Atlanta tenure, but he's looking very comfortable at the plate right now, going 6-for-16 (.375) over the last four games with four doubles, two homers and seven RBI.

Contreras is not in the starting lineup Saturday versus the Pirates.

It's a routine day of rest for Contreras, who finally broke out of an extended slump Friday. Andrew Knizner will catch and bat ninth.

Gomes went 3-for-4 with two home runs, two RBI, three runs scored and one stolen base in Friday's victory over the Dodgers.

Gomes is now slugging .533 on the season after this powerful performance. While the 35-year-old veteran has never been an exceptional home run hitter (his career high is 21), he could help the Cubs' offense be more dynamic if he stays hot. The catcher will need to prove that this wasn't a mirage, however, as he hasn't hit double-digit homers in a season since 2021, when he hit 14 between the Nationals and the Athletics.

Smith is sitting Friday against the Cubs due to an illness, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

He was supposed to be in the lineup but came in feeling sick Friday. Austin Barnes is starting at catcher in his place, and Smith should be considered day-to-day.