MLB Player News

Casali isn't starting Friday's game against the Pirates, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Casali returned from a three-game absence Wednesday against the Royals and went 1-for-2 with an RBI. He'll get a breather in Friday's series opener against Pittsburgh while Austin Wynns starts at catcher and bats ninth.

Haase, who went 2-for-4 with a double in Thursday's loss to the Rangers, is slashing .273/.304/.455 through eight games this month.

Considering Haase is slashing just .191/.248/.309 for the season, his June performance has been a breath of fresh air. He's still in a reserve role, with Tucker Barnhart serving as Detroit's top catcher, so Haase's fantasy value will be limited unless his playing time increases.

Gomes is starting at catcher and batting seventh in Friday's game against Atlanta.

Gomes got Thursday off but will return Friday, marking his fifth start in the last eight games. In his last four starts, the veteran has batted .294 with a solo home run and two runs scored. With Gomes catching, Willson Contreras will serve as the DH.

Mejia went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Thursday against the Yankees.

Mejia took Ryan Weber yard in the fifth inning to record his third homer of the season. He's taken over as the primary catcher in Tampa Bay with Mike Zunino (shoulder) sidelined, but Mejia has only three hits in 25 at-bats across his last eight games. Overall, Mejia is hitting just .206/.212/.353 line across 104 plate appearances on the campaign.

Serven went 4-for-4 with two runs scored in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Guardians.

Entering Thursday, Serven had already started behind the dish in four of the Rockies' previous seven games, and his perfect showing at the plate in the series finale with Cleveland likely further solidified him ahead of Elias Diaz on the depth chart at catcher. Serven batted out of the No. 9 spot Thursday, but with the rookie's slash line now sitting at an excellent .333/.382/.549 through his first 55 big-league plate appearances, manager Bud Black could consider moving him up in the order.

Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

The 22-year-old will join the Cardinals as additional depth behind the dish after Yadier Molina (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday. Herrera hasn't yet made any plate appearances in the majors and should serve as the backup to Andrew Knizner. However, Herrera could have a chance to carve out playing time as Knizner has gone just 1-for-22 with a walk and seven strikeouts over his last seven games.

Ruiz isn't starting the first game of Friday's doubleheader against Philadelphia, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Ruiz has gone 1-for-8 with an RBI and three strikeouts over the last two games and will get a breather in Friday's matinee. Riley Adams is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.

Realmuto isn't starting the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Nationals, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Realmuto hit .250 with a double, four runs, two RBI and two stolen bases over the last six matchups and will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Garrett Stubbs will start behind the dish and bat ninth during Friday's matinee.

Kirk went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Thursday's loss to the Orioles.

Getting the start at DH and hitting cleanup, Kirk was the only Blue Jay to collect multiple hits in a rough 10-2 loss. Rookie Gabriel Moreno seems to be Toronto's preferred option behind the plate right now given his defensive skills, but Kirk has still started five of seven games since Moreno's promotion as he splits time between designated hitter and catcher. Kirk's .356/.442/.556 slash line in June with two homers, eight RBI and nine runs through 52 plate appearances makes a compelling case for a consistent spot in the lineup.

Knizner is in line to serve as the Cardinals' primary catcher for the near future since Yadier Molina (knee) will be placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old started in six of the last nine games since Molina was dealing with persistent knee soreness, and Knizner went 1-for-18 with a walk and four strikeouts during that time. Molina doesn't yet have a timetable to return, and Knizner will likely see most of the at-bats during the veteran's IL stint. However, the Cardinals will call up prospect Ivan Herrera on Friday, and he'll likely compete for playing time in the big leagues if Knizner continues to struggle at the plate.