MLB Player News

Knizner is in line to serve as the Cardinals' primary catcher for the near future since Yadier Molina (knee) will be placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old started in six of the last nine games since Molina was dealing with persistent knee soreness, and Knizner went 1-for-18 with a walk and four strikeouts during that time. Molina doesn't yet have a timetable to return, and Knizner will likely see most of the at-bats during the veteran's IL stint. However, the Cardinals will call up prospect Ivan Herrera on Friday, and he'll likely compete for playing time in the big leagues if Knizner continues to struggle at the plate.

Herrera will be recalled by the Cardinals on Friday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Herrera spent a few days with the Cardinals in late May, and he'll rejoin the big-league club as a backup to Andrew Knizner since the team will place Yadier Molina (knee) on the 10-day injured list Friday. After failing to make any plate appearances during his first stint with the major-league club, Herrera should have more chances to prove himself at the top level while Molina is sidelined.

Smith went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Wednesday in a 4-1 victory against the Angels.

Smith provided all the runs that the Dodgers would need with his first-inning, three-run shot off Reid Detmers. The long ball was the backstop's eighth of the season and third over his past nine games. Smith is slashing .306/.359/.611 and has added two doubles, six RBI and five runs over the nine-game stretch.

Serven will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Guardians.

Now in the lineup for the fifth time in eight games, Serven appears to have overtaken Elias Diaz as the Rockies' preferred catcher for the time being. Since being called up to the big leagues May 17, Serven has hit .277 with three home runs, nine RBI and five runs in 51 plate appearances. If his playing time continues to trend upward from here, Serven could prove to be a viable fantasy option even in leagues that start one catcher, particularly in weeks in which the Rockies have a homestand.

Diaz is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians.

On the bench for the fifth in eight games, Diaz appears to have been surpassed on the depth chart at catcher by Brian Serven. Though the three-year, $14.5 million extension he signed in November was expected to give him plenty of job security as the Rockies' No. 1 backstop, Diaz has largely squandered that goodwill by producing a puny .546 OPS through 159 plate appearances this season. It's a 228-point drop in his OPS from 2021.

Gomes is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres.

Since coming off the 10-day injured list Friday, Gomes has proceeded to start in four of the Cubs' subsequent six games while going 5-for-17 with a solo home run and an additional run. He'll be back on the bench for the day game after a night game, but Gomes looks as though he'll play more frequently than the typical No. 2 catcher since the Cubs often deploy top backstop Willson Contreras as a designated hitter.

Stubbs went 2-for-3 with a walk and a three-run home run in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Marlins.

With the Phillies in danger of not only losing but being shut out, Stubbs rode to the rescue with a walkoff blast against current Miami closer Tanner Scott in the ninth inning. Stubbs doesn't see much action behind J.T. Realmuto, but he's making an impact when he is in the lineup, batting .342 (13-for-38) on the year with three homers and nine RBI.

Nola is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Nola and Jorge Alfaro have alternated starts over the past 20 games, but Alfaro will start for the second straight contest after going 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and an additional run scored Tuesday. Nola has a .250/.379/.250 slash line through seven games in June, so the timeshare behind the plate is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Narvaez isn't starting Wednesday against the Mets.

Narvaez will get a day off after he went 3-for-7 with a strikeout over the last two games. Victor Caratini is starting behind the plate and batting seventh.

McCann (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Binghamton on Thursday, Tim Britton of The Athletic report.

McCann has been sidelined for just over a month due to a broken wrist, but he's been cleared to return to game action in the minors. While the 32-year-old will likely require several rehab games given the length of his absence, he seems to be on track to return from the injured list sometime in late June.