MLB Player News

Contreras will sit Friday against the Pirates.

Contreras should remain Atlanta's starting catcher for most of the season while Travis d'Arnaud recovers from thumb surgery. He's done an impressive job through his first 15 games, hitting .255/.364/.574 with four homers, but he'll get a rest Friday with Kevan Smith taking over in his absence.

Stallings went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Thursday's 6-4 win over Atlanta.

Stallings hit a two-run home run off Drew Smyly with two outs in the first inning. The catcher is one of five Pirates with four homers this season. He is slashing .257/.371/.467 with 17 RBI and 12 runs in 124 plate appearances. Stallings has a solid 0.72 BB/K that trails only Adam Frazier for Pittsburgh.

Smith went 2-for-3 with a home run, RBI, two runs and a strikeout in Los Angeles' 3-2 win over Arizona on Thursday.

Smith recorded an infield single in the second before parking a Merrill Kelly offering over the left field fence for a decisive home run to break a 2-2 tie. This was Smith's fifth homer of the year and third straight start with two hits, a stretch that his raised his slash line to .274/.375/.504.

Contreras went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Atlanta's 6-4 loss to the Pirates on Thursday.

Contreras hit a three-run home run off Wil Crowe in the second inning. It was the fourth long ball of the season and career for the catcher. The 23-year-old is slashing .255/.364/.574 in 55 plate appearances this season. He is Atlanta's primary catcher moving forward as Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) is out long term.

Stallings (quadriceps) is starting Thursday's game against Atlanta, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Stallings had missed the last two games due to a bruised left quadriceps, but he'll start behind the plate and bat fourth Thursday. Stallings went 5-for-13 with a home run, a double, four RBI and two runs across his last four games.

Realmuto (hand) isn't starting Thursday's game against the Marlins.

Realmuto has been dealing with a bone bruise on his left hand, and he'll be out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive game. Andrew Knapp will start behind the plate and bat seventh.

Alvarez (lower body) will catch and bat third for Low-A St. Lucie in Thursday's game against the Palm Beach.

Alvarez limped off the field in a May 12 game against Daytona after a collision at the plate, but the injury only proved to be a minor concern for the Mets' top catching prospect. He returned to action three days later, and he's now 3-for-11 in his first three games back in the lineup. Perhaps in a preview of what could become a regular battery down the road, the 20-year-old Alvarez will be catching rehabbing Mets ace Jacob deGrom (side) on Thursday.

Leon isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Leon had started each of the last two games and went 1-for-8 with five strikeouts during that time. Chad Wallach will start behind the plate and bat seventh.

Contreras will sit Thursday against the Nationals.

Contreras has handled a very heavy workload behind the plate this season but will sit for the day game after playing Wednesday evening. P.J. Higgins will catch Trevor Williams in his absence.

Gomes isn't starting Thursday's game against the Cubs.

Gomes went 1-for-11 with a double, two runs and a strikeout across the last three games. Alex Avila will start at catcher and bat sixth.