MLB Player News

Contreras (hamstring) is starting behind the dish and batting second Thursday against the Reds.

He missed four games in a row with a strained hamstring, but it was apparently a very minor strain. Contreras is hitting .264/.409/.491 with three home runs and one steal in 17 games this month.

Contreras went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and two runs in the win over the Phillies on Wednesday.

Contreras took Ranger Suarez deep for a solo shot in his first at-bat in the bottom of the second frame before later walking twice and coming around to score again. The homer was his seventh of the campaign and third in his last four contests. Over the past four games, the 24-year-old has produced a .462 average with three homers, four RBI and five runs. He's now batting .273 with seven home runs, 11 RBI, 12 runs and a stolen base over 44 at-bats in 13 games in 2022. Contreras has recently transitioned into an everyday role, making him a very intriguing fantasy option at catcher moving forward.

D'Arnaud isn't starting Wednesday against the Phillies.

D'Arnaud started in the last four games and went 2-for-11 with a double, a run, a walk and two strikeouts. William Contreras will take over behind the plate and bat sixth Wednesday.

The Cubs placed Gomes on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left oblique strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Gomes was positioned for an uptick in playing time after top backstop Willson Contreras (hamstring) was on the bench for a third straight game in Tuesday's 11-4 win over the Reds, but Gomes' own injury ultimately proved to be a longer-term concern than Contreras'. P.J. Higgins will pick up another start behind the plate Wednesday in Cincinnati while Contreras continues to heal up, but the Cubs' decision not to call up another catcher in a corresponding move suggests that Contreras' injury remains a day-to-day issue.

Contreras (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Cincinnati.

Contreras' strained right hamstring will keep him on the bench for the fourth straight game, but his health at least appears to be a lesser concern than that of fellow backstop Yan Gomes (oblique), who was placed on the 10-day injured list. The Cubs could consider deactivating Contreras if he doesn't show more improvement heading into the weekend, but for now, he's being viewed as day-to-day. P.J. Higgins will pick up the start behind the plate Wednesday.

Casali (concussion) has made good progress in recent days and could be activated from the 7-day injured list this weekend, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Casali has yet to formally clear MLB's concussion protocol, but he looks like he might be able to do so by the time he's first eligible to return from the IL on Saturday. Prior to sustaining the head injury, Casali appeared to be moving into a timeshare at catcher with the struggling Joey Bart, who is hitting .171 on the season.

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

Stephenson started in each of the Reds' last seven games and was behind the plate for six of those contests, so he'll get a well-earned breather Wednesday. Aramis Garcia will catch for starting pitcher Luis Castillo.

Smith isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Smith has recorded hits in his last six games, and he's hit .261 with two homers, a double, four runs and three RBI during that time. However, Austin Barnes will take over behind the plate and bat ninth Wednesday.

Nido is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Nido will take a seat for Wednesday's matinee game after he started behind the plate in Tuesday's 13-12 loss and went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Patrick Mazeika will draw the starting nod at catcher, forming a battery with pitcher Thomas Szapucki in the lefty's first MLB start.

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

After going 2-for-5 with a double, a run and his first stolen base of the season in Tuesday's loss, Ruiz looks to be getting a breather with the Nationals and Dodgers wrapping up their series with a day game after a night game. Riley Adams will fill in for him behind the plate, while Lane Thomas replaces Ruiz as the Nationals' No. 2 hitter.