MLB Player News
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Willson Contreras C | BOS
Cubs' Willson Contreras: Sitting Friday
Contreras is not in Friday's lineup against the Brewers.
He is coming of a huge 4-for-5 game against Milwaukee on Thursday but will make way for Victor Caratini in the second game of this four-game series.
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Austin Barnes C | NYM
Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Rejoins Dodgers
Barnes was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Barnes returns to the Dodgers after spending the 10-day minimum in the minors and should serve as the third catcher and occasional utility man. The 29-year-old has struggled in the majors this season with a .198/.288/.333 slash line in 71 games.
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Tucker Barnhart C | TEX
Reds' Tucker Barnhart: Sitting Friday
Barnhart is not in Friday's lineup against the Diamondbacks.
He is 2-for-12 with two walks and three strikeouts in five September games. Curt Casali will start behind the dish and hit seventh.
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
Brewers' Yasmani Grandal: Homers in loss
Grandal went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Thursday's loss to the Cubs.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Grandal tied the game at 4-4 with a two-run homer off Jose Quintana. He also walked in the ninth, though the Brewers couldn't complete the comeback. On the season, the 30-year-old catcher has 23 home runs, 66 RBI and 60 runs scored while batting .249/.378/.466.
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Willson Contreras C | BOS
Cubs' Willson Contreras: Huge game in Milwaukee
Contreras went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a solo home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Thursday's 10-5 win over the Brewers.
Contreras returned from the injured list Tuesday, and the slugging catcher has hit the ground running. In two games, he's now 6-for-8 with two home runs to get to 21 long balls for the season. Contreras certainly looks healthy and ready to put up big numbers the rest of the way.
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Taylor Davis C | PIT
Cubs' Taylor Davis: Optioned to Triple-A
Davis was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The Cubs were carrying four healthy catchers, so Davis probably benefits more from being at Triple-A for the Iowa Cubs' playoff run than to ride the bench in the majors. Once Iowa's season is over, he will likely head back up to the majors.
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Alex Jackson C | MIN
Braves' Alex Jackson: Summoned to majors, sent to IL
Jackson was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and placed on the 60-day injured list with a left knee sprain Thursday.
With less than a month left in the season, this effectively ends Jackson's 2019 campaign. The backstop spent most of the season with Gwinnett, slashing .229/.313/.533 with 28 home runs and a 34.2 percent strikeout rate in 85 games. Darren O'Day (forearm) was activated from the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.
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Elias Diaz C | KC
Pirates' Elias Diaz: Goes deep against Marlins
Diaz's solo homer ignited a ninth-inning rally in a 6-5 win over the Marlins on Wednesday.
With just two home runs to his credit, the catcher's offensive production has fallen off a cliff since 2018. An undisclosed viral infection delayed his season's start and it's possible that he never fully recovered. Whatever the case, Diaz's disappointing campaign includes a slash line of .254/.306/.325 in 291 plate appearances and his platoon role for 2020 is not guaranteed.
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Francisco Mejia C | TB
Padres' Francisco Mejia: On track for 2019 return
Mejia (oblique) played catch up to 90 feet and participated in defensive and agility drills Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Manager Andy Green indicated that Mejia is still on track for a return this year as long as he continues to progress. The 23-year-old was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain Aug. 30. He is hitting .263 with eight homers in 205 at-bats this season.
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Tucker Barnhart C | TEX
Reds' Tucker Barnhart: Sitting Thursday
Barnhart is not in Thursday's lineup against the Phillies.
He is 2-for-11 with two walks and three strikeouts in four September games. Curt Casali will start behind the dish and hit sixth.