MLB Player News

Stephenson is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's contest with the Nationals, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Stephenson will take a seat Thursday after starting six straight games, going 6-for-24 with three RBI and four runs over that span. Aramis Garcia will start at catcher and bat eighth in the series opener.

Serven went 3-for-5 with two RBI in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Miami.

Serven remains the backup catcher in Colorado behind Elias Diaz, though he has taken advantage of his recent opportunities in the lineup. He delivered RBI singles in the second and sixth innings Wednesday to record his third multi-hit effort across six starts. Serven has collected eight hits across the first 26 at-bats of his career while also chipping in two home runs, seven RBI and three runs scored.

Contreras went 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Diamondbacks.

The 24-year-old backstop continues to make a strong case to keep a regular spot in the Atlanta lineup. Contreras has gone 13-for-33 (.394) over his last 10 games with five doubles, three homers, six runs and seven RBI while bouncing between catcher, DH and even seeing one game in left field. Travis d'Arnaud is batting .188 (6-for-32) over that same stretch without an RBI, so it could be only a matter of time until the veteran's hold on the starting spot behind the plate slips.

Contreras went 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base in Monday's 4-3 victory against the Brewers.

Contreras helped the Cubs get off to a strong start in the contest, knocking a single in the first inning and succeeding on a double steal with Christopher Morel. The backstop moved to third on an error and came around to score on a double play. Contreras later knocked in a run in the fifth inning with a single to right field. This was his third straight two-hit performance and his seventh consecutive contest with at least one base knock. Over that stretch, he is batting .370 (10-for-27) with three homers, five RBI and seven runs.

Diaz is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader versus Miami.

Diaz started Game 1 and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, and it's hardly a surprise he won't be starting both ends of the twin bill. Brian Serven will take over behind the plate in the nightcap.

Nido went 4-for-4 with a double, three RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-0 win over the Nationals.

This was Nido's third multi-hit effort of the season as well as his first career four-hit game. He knocked in a run in the fourth inning with a single before adding a two-run double in the eighth. The catcher is up to a .253/.276/.289 slash line with nine RBI, seven runs scored and three doubles through 30 contests. Nido appears to have picked up a slight edge in playing time over Patrick Mazeika, with the former starting in each of the last three games.

Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Smith will get a breather after he hit .130 with a home run, four RBI and two runs over the last six games. Austin Barnes will start behind the plate and bat seventh.

Heineman is starting Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Although right-hander Mitch White is starting for the Dodgers on Wednesday, Heineman will start behind the plate for the fifth time in the last seven games. Over the last six matchups, he's gone 4-for-14 with three runs, a walk and a strikeout.

Perez isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Perez has lost out on playing time recently, and he'll be held out of the lineup for the fifth time in the last seven games. Tyler Heineman will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Casali will start at catcher and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Phillies, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Casali will start for the third straight contest and the fourth time in five games, with three of those assignments coming behind the plate. He appears to have inched ahead of Joey Bart on the depth chart, a development that doesn't come as a major surprise given the wide chasm in their performances this season. Entering Wednesday, Casali maintains an .817 OPS over 72 plate appearances, while Bart is sitting on a .600 OPS over 102 plate appearances.