MLB Player News

Caratini is not starting Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The 27-year-old is hitting .167 in his last 10 games, having recorded neither a homer nor a multi-hit game in that stretch. Austin Nola (knee) is expected to return not long after the All-Star break and will offer Caratini more competition than current backup Webster Rivas, who is starting Wednesday.

Stallings went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 14-3 loss to Atlanta.

Stallings' first-inning homer was ultimately the only scoring in a miserable, rain-interrupted game for the Pirates. The catcher is now hitting .205 with six RBI and 12 strikeouts in his last 10 games. A .226 average through 212 at-bats is certainly underwhelming, but Stallings has little competition from .135-hitting backup Michael Perez.

Narvaez is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets.

Narvaez started behind the plate in Game 1 and went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts, so it's no surprise he won't be starting both ends of the twin bill. Manny Pina will bat seventh and catch for Brett Anderson in the nightcap.

Smith is not in the starting lineup Wednesday against Miami, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Smith will hand the catching duties off to Austin Barnes after going 2-for-8 with an RBI and run scored while starting the first two games of the series.

Heineman signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Saturday.

Heineman began the season at Triple-A Memphis, and he hit .254 with four doubles, eight runs and five RBI in 21 minor-league games before he was released by the Cardinals on Thursday. The 30-year-old has been assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and he could be an option to serve as catching depth for the big-league club at some point during the second half of the season.

McCann is not starting Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Brewers.

Tomas Nido will catch Jacob deGrom as McCann rests up his legs for the nightcap.

Contreras was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.

Contreras had lost out on playing time recently after he went 0-for-12 with a walk and six strikeouts across his last four appearances. He had been out of the lineup in five of the last nine games, but he could see more consistent at-bats in the minors while he has a chance to sort things out. Jonathan Lucroy's contract was selected as part of a corresponding move, and he could compete for playing time with Kevan Smith behind the plate going forward.

Gomes went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Padres.

Gomes doubled his first two times up and came around to score off the bat of Josh Harrison in the fifth. It was the second instance in which he's recorded multiple extra-base hits in a game this year. The 33-year-old backstop is slashing .266/.323/.443 with eight homers, 30 RBI, 28 runs scored and a 13:43 BB:K over 220 plate appearances. Gomes doesn't have much competition for reps at the moment after Alex Avila (calf) went on the injured list over the weekend and should be rostered in most leagues given the lack of depth at his position.

Stephenson went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to Kansas City.

All three of the catcher's hits were singles, and he scored on a Joey Votto triple in the third inning. Stephenson continues to show well when he's in the lineup, as he's posted a .281/.381/.432 slash line with five home runs, 22 RBI and 34 runs scored through 215 plate appearances. With Jesse Winker out of the lineup Tuesday, Stephenson hit second, but he'll likely bat further down the order in most circumstances.

Stallings isn't starting Tuesday's game against Atlanta.

Stallings will get a breather after he went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs and two strikeouts in Monday's series opener. Michael Perez will start behind the plate and bat seventh.