MLB Player News

  • Elias Diaz C | KC

    Pirates' Elias Diaz: Day off Sunday

    Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Milwaukee.

    Diaz went 3-for-7 with a double and four RBI in Saturday's 13-inning loss, and it's no surprise to see him take a seat after catching all 276 pitches in the extra-inning affair. Jacob Stallings will take over behind the plate and bat seventh in the series finale.

  • Yan Gomes C | CHC

    Nationals' Yan Gomes: Resting Sunday

    Gomes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

    Gomes will retreat to the bench after starting behind the plate in the first two games of the series. Kurt Suzuki will catch for starting pitcher Max Scherzer in the final game in Cincinnati.

  • Will Smith C | LAD

    Dodgers' Will Smith: Walkoff hero Saturday

    Smith went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Phillies.

    Smith saved his hit for the bottom of the ninth inning, raking his homer down the left-field line to give the Dodgers the win. Smith has gone 4-for-14 in four games, seeing the majority of the playing time behind the dish while Austin Barnes is out with a groin injury. Smith is expected to return to Triple-A Oklahoma City when Barnes is activated, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

  • Will Smith C | LAD

    Dodgers' Will Smith: Will go back to Triple-A

    Smith will go back to Triple-A Oklahoma City when Austin Barnes (groin) returns from the injured list, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

    Smith has started four of six games since getting called up after Barnes' injury, but manager Dave Roberts said that the 24-year-old will head back to Triple-A when Barnes returns. Barnes is eligible for activation June 7, so Smith should see a few more at-bats as the stopgap until then. He was lighting up Triple-A before his callup and made a good first impression at the dish and defensively, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Smith get another run with the big club somewhere down the line this season.

  • Padres' Francisco Mejia: Activated and sent to Triple-A

    Mejia (knee) was activated off the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.

    Mejia was with El Paso on a rehab assignment for a left knee sprain, and he will remain there instead of returning to the Padres. The young catcher slashed .167/.207/.259 with a 31 percent strikeout rate in 19 games prior to suffering the injury May 11. Austin Allen should continue to serve as the backup to starter Austin Hedges.

  • Curt Casali C | ATL

    Reds' Curt Casali: Big night at dish

    Casali went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, four RBI and two runs scored Friday against the Nationals.

    Casili didn't waste much time in this one, giving the Reds an early five-run lead in the first inning with the help of a three-run blast to left. He would later double home a run in the fourth inning. The 30-year-old backstop has seen an uptick in playing time of late, likely due to his recent hot hitting. Casili has now reached safely in four of his last five contests.

  • Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Called up for debut

    Knizner's contract was purchased from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

    He should spend at least a brief period on the big-league roster while Yadier Molina is out with a thumb injury. Knizner projects as the Cardinals' future starter behind the plate and owns a solid .286/.355/.450 line for Memphis this season, though he may not be able to unseat Matt Wieters for a temporary starting role.

  • Cubs' Willson Contreras: Heads to bench

    Contreras is not in the lineup Friday against the Cardinals.

    Contreras is hitless in his last three games, though his season line remains an excellent .296/.402/.568. Victor Caratini will start behind the plate.

  • Elias Diaz C | KC

    Pirates' Elias Diaz: Heads to bench

    Diaz is not starting Friday against the Brewers.

    Diaz has become the clear starter behind the plate in Pittsburgh, starting 12 of 15 games prior to Friday. He owns a solid .276 batting average, but singles make up the bulk of his production, giving him an unimpressive .614 OPS. Jacob Stallings gets the start behind the plate in his absence.

  • Reds' Tucker Barnhart: Out of Friday's lineup

    Barnhart is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals.

    Barnhart will sit for the third time in the last four games with Curt Casali grabbing another start behind the dish. Barnhart is hitting .346 with two homers and eight RBI in his last eight games but has essentially been splitting time with Casali over the past couple weeks.

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