MLB Player News

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

Barnhart has swung a hot bat over the last five games by going 7-for-17 with two home runs and five RBI, but he nonetheless will take a seat Sunday. Curt Casali will start behind the dish and bat eighth in the series finale.

Realmuto is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Milwaukee.

Realmuto will take a seat in the series finale after going 2-for-9 with a solo home run through the first two games versus the Brewers. Andrew Knapp will start behind the plate and bat seventh for the Phillies on Sunday.

Contreras is starting at catcher and batting fifth in Sunday's game against the Reds.

Contreras got days off both Friday and Saturday, but he had started 14 straight games before that, so a little extended rest was well-earned by the backstop. Contreras is slashing a strong .315/.424/.596 with 11 home runs and 31 RBI through 46 games this season.

Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Hedges will head to the bench after starting the last five games and going 7-for-19 with two homers and six RBI in that span. Austin Allen will start behind the dish and bat eighth in Sunday's series finale.

Diaz went 1-for-3 with a double against the Dodgers on Saturday.

He figures to see the bulk of playing time behind the plate for as long as starter Francisco Cervelli misses time with a concussion. Diaz is hitting .387 in his last 31 at-bats after shaking off a slow start. The catcher hit .286 with 10 homers and 34 RBI in 82 games for the Pirates in 2018.

Nido went 1-for-2 with a walkoff solo home run in the 13th inning against the Tigers on Saturday.

Entering as a pinch hitter in the 11th, Nido flew out in his first at-bat, but he ended the game with a deep fly two frames later. It was only his second home run of the season, but both have come in his last six games. Nido is hitting .194 with three extra-base hits, five RBI and two runs in 31 at-bats this season.

Gomes went 1-for-2 with two walks, a double and three RBI in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Marlins.

The catcher's bases-loaded double capped a five-run fourth inning for the Nats, giving Patrick Corbin all the offense he would need as he tossed his second career shutout. Gomes is slashing only .239/.323/.336 on the season, but he appears to be heating up, going 7-for-16 with four walks and five RBI over the course of a five-game hitting streak.

Barnhart went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a pair of runs scored in Saturday's loss to the Cubs.

Barnhart opened the scoring with a two-run shot off Yu Darvish in the second inning. He later doubled and scored in the sixth. His season numbers remain poor, as he's hitting just .195 with a .644 OPS.

Diaz is not starting Saturday against the Dodgers.

Diaz will sit after starting seven of the last eight games. Fellow catcher Francisco Cervelli was healthy for the first four of those games but had been battling a chest contusion for the last three. It's unclear what the playing-time breakdown will be going forward now that both are healthy.

Barnes is not starting Saturday against the Pirates.

Barnes has gone 7-for-15 at the plate over his last four games, but Russell Martin will get the start behind the plate Saturday.