MLB Player News

Contreras is starting at catcher and batting first in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Dodgers.

The Cubs are struggling at just 9-15, so manager David Ross will mix things up and bat Contreras leadoff for the first time this season. The catcher did bat first 34 times last year, so he has some experience in the role. Contreras has a .236/.337/.403 slash line so far in 2022.

Herrera started at catcher for the injured Carson Kelly (abdomen) and went 1-for-2 in Friday's 4-1 win over Colorado.

Kelly was a late scratch but was not placed on the injury list. Herrera, whose .120 batting average is slightly better than Kelly's .105 mark, will likely see an uptick in playing time for however long Kelly is out.

Smith isn't starting the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Smith started in the last three games and went 2-for-10 with two RBI, a run, two walks and three strikeouts. Austin Barnes will take over behind the dish and bat eighth in Saturday's matinee.

Perez isn't starting Friday against Cincinnati, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Perez started in three of the last four games and went 3-for-11 with a homer, two runs and two RBI. Andrew Knapp will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Ruiz went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBI in Thursday's loss to the Rockies.

The backstop took Jhoulys Chacin deep in the sixth inning for a solo shot, Ruiz's first homer of the year. The 23-year-old has six hits in his last three games including two doubles, pushing his slash line on the season up to .275/.306/.388 with five runs and nine RBI through 21 contests.

Bart isn't starting Thursday against the Cardinals, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Bart started in the last three games and went 0-for-6 with a run, three walks and three strikeouts. Curt Casali will take over behind the dish and bat ninth.

Stephenson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and an additional run scored during Thursday's 10-5 loss to the Brewers. He struck out once.

Stephenson opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning and eventually came around to score on a Colin Moran single. The slugger also rocked a solo shot off Brewers starter Adrian Houser in the fourth inning, but he was one of the few bright spots for the Reds during another brutal loss. It was Stephenson's fourth multi-hit game of the season and brings his season slash line to .263/.356/.500.

Stallings isn't starting Thursday against the Padres, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Stallings has gone 1-for-9 with two runs and a walk over his last three games, and he'll be out of the lineup for a second consecutive matchup. Payton Henry will start behind the plate and bat ninth.

Cartaya went 3-for-6 with a home run, a double, four RBI and two runs for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday.

Cartaya's two-run homer in the third inning had an extra level of significance as it came off rehabbing major-league hurler Blake Snell (groin). Cartaya almost went deep again in the 10th, but he had to settle for a two-run, ground-rule double. The backstop's bat has been on fire of late, as he has gone 9-for-14 with four homers, eight runs and 11 RBI over his past three games. Cartaya started the campaign slowly, but he's lifted his batting average almost 100 points with the three-game surge and is now slashing .265/.390/.588 with six homers and 18 RBI on the season.

McCann isn't starting Thursday against the Phillies.

McCann started in the last two games and went 3-for-7 with a strikeout. Tomas Nido will start behind the plate and bat ninth Thursday.