MLB Player News

Mejia is not in the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

Mejia has shown significantly more power against righties (.545 slugging percentage) than against lefties (.346 SLG) this season, so he'll head to the bench with southpaw Robbie Ray taking the hill for Arizona. Austin Hedges will replace him behind the dish for the season finale.

Plawecki is not in the lineup Sunday against the Marlins.

Plawecki started the past three contests but has just one hit to show for it. He'll sit out of the season finale, ending his season with a .685 OPS to go with seven home runs and 30 RBI. Tomas Nido will replace him behind the plate Sunday.

Realmuto is not in Sunday's lineup against the Mets, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Realmuto will finish the season on the bench for the second straight game and was 1-for-15 with six strikeouts in his last four games. Chad Wallach will start at catcher and bat seventh for the Marlins. Realmuto has a .277/.340/.484 slash line with 21 home runs and 74 RBI, although he could still make an appearance off the bench Sunday.

Barnhart is not in the lineup Sunday against the Pirates, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old started the first two games of the series, but he'll get a day off in the season finale. If he doesn't make an appearance Sunday, Barnhart will finish the season a .700 OPS, his lowest mark since 2015 despite tallying a career-high 10 home runs. Tim Federowicz will slide in behind the plate to replace him.

Hedges is not starting Saturday against Arizona.

Hedges has gone just 2-for-20 over his last seven games. A.J. Ellis will start behind the plate Saturday.

Realmuto will hit the bench Saturday against the Mets, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

Realmuto sits for the second time in three games. Bryan Holaday will get the start behind the plate in his place.

Contreras is out of the lineup against the Cardinals on Saturday.

Contreras will receive a standard day off after starting the past two games behind the plate. Victor Caratini will catch Cole Hamels and bat eighth in the lineup during Saturday's matinee.

Diaz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI in Friday's victory over Cincinnati.

Diaz plated a run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly and clubbed a solo home run in the fourth. He's managed to take the field for just five games in September after missing most of the month with a hamstring issue. The 27-year-old is batting .286 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI through 81 games this season with just two games remaining in 2018.

Barnhart went 5-for-5 with a triple and a two-run home run in Friday's loss to Pittsburgh.

Barnhart went deep in the ninth inning and managed to cut the Pirates' lead to four, but the Reds would fall in the series opener. The 27-year-old had struggled at the dish in September prior to Friday's ballgame (.169 average through 20 games), but he'll look to end the season on a high note after putting together a multi-hit performance.

Mesoraco hit a three-run, pinch-hit home run in his lone at-bat in Thursday's win over Atlanta.

Mesoraco stepped in for Mets starter Jason Vargas in the seventh inning and knocked a three-run shot, extending his team's lead to 4-0. He's up to 11 home runs this season, his highest total since his 2014 All-Star campaign with Cincinnati.