MLB Player News

Barnhart isn't starting Friday against the Angels.

Barnhart has started mainly against right-handed pitchers this year, and he'll head to the bench with southpaw Patrick Sandoval on the mound Friday. Eric Haase is starting behind the plate and batting cleanup.

Langeliers drew his first big-league start at catcher in a loss to the Rangers on Thursday, going 1-for-4 with a double and a run.

The rookie backstop also threw out Marcus Semien on an attempted steal of second base in the first inning and had three assists overall in the first three frames, per the Associated Press. Langeliers has gotten off to a hot start with his bat against big-league arms, with all three of his hits over his first three games going for extra bases (two doubles and a home run).

Bethancourt went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored Thursday against the Royals.

Bethancourt took Josh Staumont yard in the eighth inning to record his sixth homer of the season. It was only his second home run since joining the Rays on July 11, and he has a poor .200/.214/.327 slash line across 55 at-bats with his new team. Bethancourt has lost out on some playing time since the return of Francisco Mejia, but he has still been in the lineup for six of the team's last 12 games.

Contreras went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs Thursday against the Orioles.

Contreras accounted for the majority of Chicago's offense, going yard in the sixth and eighth innings. He now has 19 home runs for the season, five of which have come since Aug. 4. In that 12-game span, Contreras has also chipped in 10 RBI and nine runs scored. For the campaign, he has maintained a .249/.358/.472 line across 433 plate appearances.

The Mets hope Nido (illness) will be able to return from the COVID-19 injured list sometime this weekend in Philadelphia, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Nido has been on the COVID-19 IL since Monday, but it seems likely that he'll be back in action after missing less than a week. The team hasn't announced a date for the backstop's return, but he should be back in action in the coming days.

Manager Craig Counsell said Narvaez (quadriceps) is expected to return from the 10-day injured list Saturday against the Cubs, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Narvaez began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday and has gone 3-for-8 with a double, two RBI, a run and a strikeout over two games. He'll likely remain with the minor-league club for another day or two but should be back in the Brewers' lineup this weekend.

Diaz (wrist) took swings Thursday and has resumed playing catch pain-free, the Associated Press reports.

Diaz sounds like he could soon be ready to head out on what should be a brief minor-league rehab assignment. The Rockies' top catcher has been out since Aug. 12 with a left wrist sprain, which has allowed Brian Serven to temporarily take over as the team's No. 1 backstop.

Jansen isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Yankees.

Jansen has alternated starts behind the dish recently and went 1-for-3 with a run, a walk and a strikeout Wednesday against Baltimore . Alejandro Kirk will start at catcher while George Springer serves as the designated hitter Thursday.

Mejia isn't starting Thursday against the Royals, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Mejia is in the midst of a six-game hit streak in which he's slashed .391/.440/.565 with four doubles, four RBI and three runs. However, he'll get a breather Thursday while Christian Bethancourt starts behind the plate and bats seventh.

Delay is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

Delay started behind the plate in four of the Pirates' last five games, but he could see his opportunities take a hit now that Tyler Heineman -- who will start at catcher Thursday -- is back from a brief stint on the injured list. Before missing time with a right groin strain, the switch-hitting Heineman had occupied the larger side of a platoon with the righty-hitting Delay, who has done his best work against southpaws (111 wRC+ in 42 plate appearances).