MLB Player News

The Phillies placed Realmuto (knee) on the COVID-19 injured list Thursday.

After he was held out of the lineup for Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Nationals due to a bruised left knee, the star backstop is contending with a COVID-19-related issue a day later. At this point, the Phillies haven't provided any details regarding whether Realmuto was placed on the list due to a positive test, a close-contact situation or adverse effects to a vaccine shot, making it difficult to predict when he might be able to return to the lineup. In the meantime, Andrew Knapp will serve as Philadelphia's No. 1 catcher, while the Phillies recalled Rafael Marchan from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to provide depth behind him.

Realmuto (knee) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.

Realmuto's bruised left knee will keep him on the bench for the second straight game, affording Andrew Knapp another turn behind the dish. At this point, the Phillies are labeling Realmuto day-to-day and are hopeful he'll avoid a trip to the injured list, but that could change if he remains out of the lineup through the weekend series with the Blue Jays.

Contreras is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.

With Atlanta wrapping up its homestand with a day game after a night game, Contreras will take a seat in favor of No. 2 catcher Jeff Mathis. Contreras has started each of Atlanta's last five games, going 2-for-19 with a home run and a double.

Leon went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over Arizona.

The backstop crushed a 417-foot shot in the second inning that ultimately provided the winning margin in the contest. Leon hasn't finished with a batting average above the Mendoza Line since 2017, so his .220 mark this season is somewhat of a pleasant surprise.

Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

Contreras supplied the lone offensive production for Atlanta on Wednesday when he took Hyun Jin Ryu yard in the fifth inning. It was his second home run of the season and his career. Although Contreras has managed to also chip in seven RBI and five runs scored in only 31 plate appearances, he'll likely need to decrease his 32.3 percent strikeout rate to be a consistent producer at the plate moving forward.

Caratini went 1-for-2 with a grand slam and a walk in a 5-3 win over Colorado in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader.

Caratini's blast in the sixth inning gave San Diego all the offense it needed to emerge with a win. The catcher has three home runs, 16 RBI, 10 runs scored and a stolen base through 27 games played this year. He's likely to split time with Austin Nola throughout the season, although Caratini is nearly guaranteed to play when Yu Darvish is on the mound.

Contreras went 4-for-5 with four singles and a strikeout in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to Cleveland.

Contreras did his part to keep the line moving Wednesday. He's rebounded after a tough stretch to start May -- the catcher has gone 7-for-14 with a pair of RBI and a run scored in his last four games. For the season, he's posted a .248/.349/.459 slash line with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 18 runs scored and two stolen bases in 129 plate appearances.

Realmuto (knee) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The Phillies will extend Realmuto a maintenance day after he took a foul ball off his left knee during Tuesday's 6-2 win. He was fortunate to escape without any structural damage, as he's instead managing a bruise and some soreness on the back of his knee. Andrew Knapp will fill in behind the dish Wednesday, but manager Joe Girardi noted that Realmuto isn't a candidate to land on the injured list and will be available off the bench in a pinch-hitting capacity, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Nola is out of the lineup for the first half of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Rockies.

With Yu Darvish on the mound for Game 1, his personal catcher, Victor Caratini will be behind the dish. Expect Nola to catch Blake Snell in the nightcap.

McNeil isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

McNeil has gone 1-for-13 with a run and seven strikeouts across the last four games. Tomas Nido will start at catcher and bat eighth.