MLB Player News

Smith isn't starting Saturday's game against Cleveland, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Smith will get a breather after he went 1-for-12 with a three-run homer and a walk over the last three games. Austin Barnes is starting behind the plate and batting ninth.

Stallings isn't starting Saturday's game against the Mets, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Stallings went 0-for-4 during Friday's series opener against the Mets and will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Nick Fortes is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.

Gomes isn't starting Saturday against Atlanta, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Gomes started in five of the last seven games and hit .238 with a solo home run, two runs and five strikeouts. Willson Contreras will start behind the dish while Rafael Ortega serves as the designated hitter Saturday.

D'Arnaud isn't starting Saturday's game against the Cubs.

D'Arnaud went 0-for-3 during Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field and will be held out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. William Contreras is starting behind the plate and batting fifth.

Casali isn't starting Friday's game against the Pirates, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Casali returned from a three-game absence Wednesday against the Royals and went 1-for-2 with an RBI. He'll get a breather in Friday's series opener against Pittsburgh while Austin Wynns starts at catcher and bats ninth.

Gomes is starting at catcher and batting seventh in Friday's game against Atlanta.

Gomes got Thursday off but will return Friday, marking his fifth start in the last eight games. In his last four starts, the veteran has batted .294 with a solo home run and two runs scored. With Gomes catching, Willson Contreras will serve as the DH.

Serven went 4-for-4 with two runs scored in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Guardians.

Entering Thursday, Serven had already started behind the dish in four of the Rockies' previous seven games, and his perfect showing at the plate in the series finale with Cleveland likely further solidified him ahead of Elias Diaz on the depth chart at catcher. Serven batted out of the No. 9 spot Thursday, but with the rookie's slash line now sitting at an excellent .333/.382/.549 through his first 55 big-league plate appearances, manager Bud Black could consider moving him up in the order.

Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

The 22-year-old will join the Cardinals as additional depth behind the dish after Yadier Molina (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday. Herrera hasn't yet made any plate appearances in the majors and should serve as the backup to Andrew Knizner. However, Herrera could have a chance to carve out playing time as Knizner has gone just 1-for-22 with a walk and seven strikeouts over his last seven games.

Ruiz isn't starting the first game of Friday's doubleheader against Philadelphia, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Ruiz has gone 1-for-8 with an RBI and three strikeouts over the last two games and will get a breather in Friday's matinee. Riley Adams is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.

Realmuto isn't starting the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Nationals, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Realmuto hit .250 with a double, four runs, two RBI and two stolen bases over the last six matchups and will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Garrett Stubbs will start behind the dish and bat ninth during Friday's matinee.