MLB Player News

Perez was added to the Braves' active roster Monday.

Josh Ravin (illness) was sent to the disabled list to clear room on the Braves' roster for the addition of Perez, who was acquired from the Angels over the weekend. With Tyler Flowers (oblique) expected to miss extended time and Kurt Suzuki nursing a hand injury, Perez will immediately step in and share catching duties with Chris Stewart, though it's unclear if Perez will remain with the big club following the return of Suzuki.

Contreras is catching and batting fourth in Monday's game against the Reds.

Contreras received his first day off of the season Sunday after starting the Cubs' first three games. So far this year, he's just 4-for-17 with seven strikeouts, but he has the ability to get the bat going in a hurry.

Wallach went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and an RBI in Sunday's 6-0 win over the Cubs.

The 26-year-old catcher had a brutal start to the season, going 0-for-10 with eight strikeouts in his first two games, but Marlins manager Don Mattingly stuck with him and got rewarded for his patience Sunday. Wallach appears set to see regular duty behind the plate until J.T. Realmuto (back) is ready to come off the disabled list in a couple of weeks.

Perez will join the Braves in advance of Monday's series opener against the Nationals, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

With Tyler Flowers (oblique) expected to be sidelined for a month and Kurt Suzuki (hand) possibly headed for the DL as well, Perez has an opportunity to earn immediate playing time. He and Chris Stewart would likely split reps behind the plate once an official roster move is announced.

Barnhart is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Nationals.

Barnhart started the first two games of the year for the Reds, going 1-for-7 at the plate. He'll now be held out for what appears to be just a regular maintenance day, giving way to Devin Mesoraco behind the plate.

Contreras is out of the lineup Sunday against the Marlins.

Contreras has been behind the plate for each of Chicago's first three games, going a combined 4-for-17 (.235) with seven strikeouts. He'll take a seat for the series finale, however, giving way to Victor Caratini at catcher.

D'Arnaud is out of the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

He'll give way to Kevin Plawecki behind the plate for the second time in three games. Mets manager Mickey Callaway indicated earlier in the spring that d'Arnaud would see fewer at-bats against right-handed pitching in 2018 than he has in seasons past, and it appears that plan has come to pass thus far. While D'Arnaud won't be relegated to the short side of a platoon, it appears the starts could be divvied up fairly evenly between the two catchers.

Perez was traded to the Braves by the Angels on Saturday for infielder Ryan Schimpf, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports. Atlanta is expected to clear roster space to add Perez to the 25-man roster Monday, Grant McAuley of 929 The Game reports.

Tyler Flowers (oblique) is expected to need a lengthy stay on the disabled list, and Kurt Suzuki (hand) was hit by a pitch on his hand Friday, so the Braves needed depth behind the plate. Perez, who was designated for assignment by the Angels earlier in the week, could step into immediate playing time, at least in a part-time role, depending on Suzuki's availability, which may give him some NL-only fantasy interest. Atlanta still has Chris Stewart in tow, though, and most fantasy players in deep mixed leagues should wait for strong evidence from Perez's plate work that he deserves a pickup, though two-catcher competitors have more of a reason to consider him.

Grandal is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants.

After starting the first two games of the season, Grandal will head to the bench while Austin Barnes takes over behind the dish. The two are expected to split time at backstop in 2018, with Grandal seeing most plate appearances against right-handed pitchers.

Realmuto will likely miss the first two or three weeks of the 2018 season while recovering from a back contusion, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

He has yet to swing a bat since suffering the injury during a Grapefruit League game March 11. Realmuto has played catch over the past couple weeks, but manager Don Mattingly doesn't want to rush the 27-year-old into action until he's fully operational. In his absence, Chad Wallach has started the first two games of the season while Tomas Telis and Bryan Holaday are also on the active roster.