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J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: Snaps power drought
Realmuto went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Padres.
Realmuto hit the second of the Phillies two sixth-inning blasts off Padres starter Joe Musgrove. The homer was Realmuto's first extra-base hit since June 12 and his first long ball since May 26 as he's struggled to generate much power lately. The catcher is slashing .240/.318/.358 with four homers, 27 RBI, 33 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 11 doubles and two triples through 258 plate appearances.
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James McCann C | ARI
Mets' James McCann: Likely to return Friday
McCann (wrist) is traveling to Miami and is expected to be activated from the injured list Friday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
McCann has been on a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton since June 16 and collected six hits in 21 at-bats. He should return to his role as the Mets' primary catcher, though he was hitting just .196/.266/.286 across 64 plate appearances prior to going down.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Racks up three hits Wednesday
Smith went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI in Wednesday's 8-4 win against Cincinnati.
Smith started behind the plate and slotted into the third spot in the batting order. He produced the Dodgers' first run with a single in the third inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Turner in the fifth. Smith has tallied multiple hits in each of his past three contests, going 7-for-12 with a home run and three RBI over that span. He's back in the lineup for Thursday's early game against the Reds, working as the designated hitter while Austin Barnes takes over at catcher.
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Andrew Knizner C | SF
Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Not in Thursday's lineup
Knizner isn't starting Thursday against the Brewers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Knizner started the last three games and went 1-for-8 with a walk and a strikeout. Ivan Herrera will take over behind the dish and bat ninth Thursday.
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Omar Narvaez C | HOU
Brewers' Omar Narvaez: Not starting Thursday
Narvaez isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against St. Louis.
Narvaez went 0-for-7 with a strikeout over his last two games and will be excluded from the starting lineup for the third time in the last five matchups. Victor Caratini is starting behind the plate and batting sixth.
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Michael Perez C | BAL
Pirates' Michael Perez: Sitting Thursday
Perez is not in the starting lineup Thursday versus the Cubs.
Perez will sit Thursday after he went 2-for-8 with a solo home run over the last two contests. Tyler Heineman will take over behind the plate and bat eighth in the series finale.
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Brian Serven C | ATH
Rockies' Brian Serven: Sitting again Thursday
Serven is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Marlins, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.
Serven will sit for the second game in a row Thursday as Elias Diaz draws the start at catcher, batting seventh. The two men continue to split time behind the plate with neither of them commanding the lion's share of playing time.
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Jacob Stallings C | BAL
Marlins' Jacob Stallings: Gets maintenance day
Stallings is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rockies, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The Marlins and Rockies are closing their series with a day game after a night game, so Stallings will receive some routine maintenance after catching three of Miami's last four contests. Nick Fortes will check in for Stallings behind the plate, forming a battery with starting pitcher Braxton Garrett.
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Elias Diaz C | TEX
Rockies' Elias Diaz: Slugs three-run homer
Diaz went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer Wednesday against the Marlins.
Diaz took Louis Head yard in the ninth inning to tally his fourth homer of the season. After failing to go deep for a 25-start stretch between May 1 and June 15, Diaz has hit a home run in back-to-back games. He's hitting a disappointing .216/.269/.333 for the season and has started only five of the team's last 12 games as a result.
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Keibert Ruiz C | WAS
Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Gets rest Wednesday
Ruiz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The Nationals are off Thursday, so Ruiz will effectively be in line for a two-day break after he was behind the plate for each of the team's last four games. Riley Adams will start at catcher and hit eighth.