MLB Player News

Barnes went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two additional RBI in a 12-6 victory against the Brewers on Wednesday.

Los Angeles racked up 13 hits and 12 runs in the contest, but Barnes' sixth-inning two-run shot was the team's only long ball. The backup backstop also knocked in a run with a fielder's choice in the third inning and notched an RBI single in the fourth. Barnes is batting a paltry .189 on the season, but he's had a strong August with a .333/.391/.667 slash line, two homers and six RBI over six contests.

Gomes went 0-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Cardinals.

Despite failing to record a hit, Gomes contributed with four combined runs and RBI Wednesday. The backup catcher now has 37 combined runs and RBI in 64 games played this season. With Willson Contreras still playing almost every day, Gomes only holds value in deep two-catcher leagues where counting stats are most valued.

Fortes went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the A's.

The 25-year-old continues to be a pleasant surprise for the Marlins in the power department after taking Dany Jimenez deep in the ninth inning to force extras, even if Miami couldn't capitalize on the reprieve. Fortes has seven homers and 18 RBI through 146 plate appearances in the majors this season, but his batting average has slipped with regular playing time -- he's hitting only .209 (9-for-43) in August.

Contreras went 2-for-5 with a walk, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 14-2 rout of the Pirates.

The rookie backstop got Atlanta on the board in the second inning by taking Mitch Keller deep. Contreras has started only three of the last seven games despite a strong August in which he's batting .278 (20-for-72) with four of his 17 homers on the season, but there's been no indication from Atlanta the 24-year-old has been nursing any kind of injury.

Kirk went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Wednesday's extra-inning victory over the Red Sox.

The All-Star catcher recorded three hits Wednesday after going hitless in his previous two games. The multi-hit effort pushed Kirk's batting average back over .300. Of catchers with at least 200 plate appearances, Kirk is the only one with an average over that mark, with the second being Chrsitian Vazquez at .288, followed by Will Smith at .270. Sporting an elite batting average, double-digit home runs, and solid counting stats hitting in the middle of Toronto's lineup, Kirk has been one of the greatest surprises of the 2022 season.

Maile went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's 7-0 win over San Diego.

Maile tallied an RBI single off lefty starter Blake Snell with one out in the fourth to put Cleveland up 4-0. The catcher has been swinging a hot bat in August with a .394 average and 1.065 OPS over 33 at-bats in 10 games. Furthermore, the 31-year-old has eight RBI during that span and at least one hit in nine of those contests.

Narvaez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Narvaez is 0-for-9 with a walk and three strikeouts in three games since returning from the injured list Saturday, and he'll take a seat Wednesday with southpaw Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles. Victor Caratini will start behind the plate and bat seventh versus Los Angeles.

Contreras (ankle) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The 30-year-old didn't see the field during Tuesday's twin bill due to left ankle stiffness, and he won't rejoin Chicago's starting nine Wednesday. Contreras has been playing through the issue the past couple weeks, and he's now being forced to miss some time after aggravating the injury last week.

Smith isn't starting Wednesday against the Brewers, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.

Smith started the last six games and slashed .250/.308/.417 with a homer, a walk, eight RBI and three runs across that span. Austin Barnes will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Jansen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Jansen has been one of the big losers of the Blue Jays' reluctance to use George Springer in the outfield for the past few weeks while he's contended with elbow and knee injuries. With Springer clogging up the designated hitter spot for the second straight game Wednesday, Alejandro Kirk will serve as the Blue Jays' catcher. Though Jansen is the superior defender behind the plate, Kirk's bat is too potent for the Blue Jays to take him out of the lineup.