MLB Player News

Caratini will not start at first base Thursday against the Cardinals as originally anticipated.

Caratini was slated to start at first base, but Anthony Rizzo will make a surprising return to action, and he will get the nod at the position instead.

Mejia is not in Thursday's lineup against the Brewers.

He returned to action Wednesday after missing almost three weeks with an oblique injury and went 2-for-4 with a strikeout. Austin Hedges will catch and hit eighth.

Grandal is not in Thursday's lineup against the Padres.

Grandal has been really grinding for Milwaukee, as this represents his first day out of the lineup since Aug. 18. He is hitting .219/.390/.490 with seven home runs, 27 walks and 32 strikeouts in 28 games over that span. Manny Pina will start behind the dish and hit seventh. It would not be surprising if Grandal were in the lineup for each of the final nine games of the season.

Stallings (back) is not in Thursday's lineup against the Mariners.

It sounds like the Pirates are hoping to have Stallings back for this weekend's series against the Brewers. Elias Diaz is starting behind the dish and hitting fifth.

Hedges is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Hedges will give way to Francisco Mejia behind the plate Wednesday night. Hedges started regularly the last three weeks with Mejia sidelined, but with Mejia now back in action, the two figure to split the catching duties in some fashion the rest of the way.

Mejia is in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Mejia has not started a game since August 27 because of an oblique injury, but he is finally ready to get back behind the plate. He will hit sixth Wednesday against Brewers starter Adrian Houser.

Stallings (back) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

Stallings sat out the last three games because of his injury, and it looks like he will miss another contest unless he sees action off the bench. Elias Diaz will make his fifth straight start behind the plate Wednesday.

Barnhart is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Barnhart is just 5-for-27 (.135) at the plate this month, so a day off could give him a chance to clear his head. Curt Casali will get the start behind the plate Wednesday in Barnhart's place.

Gomes went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, a stolen base and an RBI in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Cardinals.

Gomes has been one of the more productive fantasy catchers over the past month, batting .279 with four home runs, 12 RBI, nine runs and a steal in 17 games dating back to Aug. 18. During that run, Gomes has supplanted Kurt Suzuki as the Nationals' top catcher and should shoulder a heavy workload down the stretch. With Suzuki tending to an inflamed elbow, Gomes will be behind the plate Wednesday for the day game after a night game, batting eighth in the Washington lineup.

Mejia (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against Milwaukee.

Mejia found himself on the injured list at the end of August after suffering a right oblique strain, though he managed to return in just over two weeks. Despite Mejia's activation, Austin Hedges gets the call behind the dish and will bat eighth Tuesday.