MLB Player News

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a homer, two walks, three RBI and two runs in his most recent game for Triple-A Syracuse, but he's still hitting just .179/.340/.375 in 32 games since his promotion.

The 20-year-old backstop has seen his power stroke show up only in fits and starts at the highest level of the minors, as Tuesday's long ball snapped a stretch of 11 straight games without any extra-base hits. That said, while his overall stat line with Syracuse is ugly, there are some positives to be found in it. Alvarez has a .209 BABIP in Triple-A that's bound for positive regression, and while his strikeout rate has climbed to an uncomfortable 28.4 percent (from 24 percent in Double-A this year), his walk rate has also spiked to 17.6 percent (from 12.5). It's also worth remembering that Alvarez is exceptionally young for a catching prospect on the doorstep of the major leagues -- for one illustrative example, when Orioles stud rookie backstop Adley Rutschman was Alvarez's age, he was still playing college ball.

Realmuto went 3-for-5 with a double and a solo homer in Wednesday's 7-5 victory over the Reds.

Realmuto led off the third inning with a home run off righty starter T.J. Zeuch to give Philadelphia a 3-1 lead. The catcher has been electric lately with a .438 average and 1.236 OPS in 32 at-bats across his last eight games. The 31-year-old has recorded a double in five contests during that span and has gone three straight games without a strikeout.

Barnes went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two additional RBI in a 12-6 victory against the Brewers on Wednesday.

Los Angeles racked up 13 hits and 12 runs in the contest, but Barnes' sixth-inning two-run shot was the team's only long ball. The backup backstop also knocked in a run with a fielder's choice in the third inning and notched an RBI single in the fourth. Barnes is batting a paltry .189 on the season, but he's had a strong August with a .333/.391/.667 slash line, two homers and six RBI over six contests.

Gomes went 0-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Cardinals.

Despite failing to record a hit, Gomes contributed with four combined runs and RBI Wednesday. The backup catcher now has 37 combined runs and RBI in 64 games played this season. With Willson Contreras still playing almost every day, Gomes only holds value in deep two-catcher leagues where counting stats are most valued.

Fortes went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the A's.

The 25-year-old continues to be a pleasant surprise for the Marlins in the power department after taking Dany Jimenez deep in the ninth inning to force extras, even if Miami couldn't capitalize on the reprieve. Fortes has seven homers and 18 RBI through 146 plate appearances in the majors this season, but his batting average has slipped with regular playing time -- he's hitting only .209 (9-for-43) in August.

Contreras went 2-for-5 with a walk, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 14-2 rout of the Pirates.

The rookie backstop got Atlanta on the board in the second inning by taking Mitch Keller deep. Contreras has started only three of the last seven games despite a strong August in which he's batting .278 (20-for-72) with four of his 17 homers on the season, but there's been no indication from Atlanta the 24-year-old has been nursing any kind of injury.

Narvaez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Narvaez is 0-for-9 with a walk and three strikeouts in three games since returning from the injured list Saturday, and he'll take a seat Wednesday with southpaw Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles. Victor Caratini will start behind the plate and bat seventh versus Los Angeles.

Contreras (ankle) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The 30-year-old didn't see the field during Tuesday's twin bill due to left ankle stiffness, and he won't rejoin Chicago's starting nine Wednesday. Contreras has been playing through the issue the past couple weeks, and he's now being forced to miss some time after aggravating the injury last week.

Smith isn't starting Wednesday against the Brewers, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.

Smith started the last six games and slashed .250/.308/.417 with a homer, a walk, eight RBI and three runs across that span. Austin Barnes will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Stallings isn't starting Wednesday against the Athletics, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Stallings has alternated starts behind the dish recently and will head to the bench after he went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two strikeouts Tuesday. Nick Fortes is starting at catcher and batting fifth.