MLB Player News

Realmuto is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Braves.

Andrew Knapp will take over behind the plate to catch for starting pitcher Zach Eflin. Realmuto had limited spring at-bats due to a fractured right thumb, but he has shown little rust through two regular-season games, going 4-for-8 with two doubles.

Barnhart is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Barnhart will be getting a routine day off after starting at catcher in each of the Reds' first two games of the season. Tyler Stephenson will check into the starting nine for the first time in 2021, batting eighth while catching for starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman.

Narvaez went 1-for-3 during Saturday's loss against the Twins.

Narvaez was the only Milwaukee player who mustered a hit in a game in which the Brewers were completely outmatched. Narvaez was seeing the ball well in spring training and he's started the regular season on a strong note as well, hitting safely in both contests and going 3-for-6 with an RBI thus far in his first two games.

Grullon was designated for assignment by the Reds on Saturday.

Grullon hit .283/.534/.496 in 108 games at the Triple-A level in the Phillies organization in 2019, but he hasn't established himself anywhere as even a backup catcher, receiving just 13 plate appearances at the highest level. The Reds apparently don't even like the 25-year-old as a depth option, as they removed him from the 40-man roster to clear space for waiver claim Beau Taylor, a 31-year-old with a career .492 OPS in limited big-league opportunities.

Smith will be on the bench Saturday against the Rockies, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

The Dodgers made it clear over the offseason that Smith wouldn't find himself in the lineup all that more often than Austin Barnes this season. That's been the case through the first three games of the year, with Smith starting just once and Barnes starting twice. Smith went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs and two RBI Friday, but even that wasn't enough to keep him in the lineup.

Barnes (hand) will catch and bat eighth Saturday against the Rockies, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Barnes left Thursday's season opener with a cut on his hand following a collision at home plate. He didn't appear in Friday's contest but is ready to go again Saturday, starting ahead of Will Smith for the second time in the first three games.

Diaz will sit Saturday against the Dodgers, Jenny Cavnar of AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain reports.

Diaz started behind the plate on Opening Day but now finds himself on the bench for the second game in a row. Dom Nunez will get another start in his absence.

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

It's not every day that a catcher bats leadoff, but Contreras was already batting second for the Cubs, and he'll now move up a spot with Ian Happ out of Saturday's lineup. Contreras doesn't offer a ton of speed atop the lineup, though he's good at getting on base and could score a handful of runs if the Chicago bats behind him are able to get going after a sluggish season opener Thursday.

Smith went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI in Friday's 11-6 win over the Rockies.

Making his first start of the season, Smith took full advantage of Coors Field's expansive outfield. Austin Barnes injured his hand Opening Day but is still expected to be back behind the plate Saturday, and the only thing standing between Smith and a huge 2021 campaign might be the fact that he's stuck in a timeshare.

Caratini is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks.

The 27-year-old received the start Opening Day with Austin Nola (finger) sidelined, and Caratini went 2-for-4 with three RBI and one strikeout. Luis Campusano will catch for lefty Blake Snell on Friday.