MLB Player News

Stallings is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Stallings started the past three games and will receive a day off for the series finale versus Milwaukee. Payton Henry will take over behind the plate, forming a battery with Elieser Hernandez.

Stephenson (head) is out of Sunday's lineup against the Pirates.

He passed initial concussion tests Saturday night after taking a foul ball off his facemask. Considering Stephenson has suffered three concussions in his career, the Reds will tread carefully here, so it's not surprising he is getting at least one day off ahead of Monday's off day. Aramis Garcia is starting behind the dish, batting seventh.

D'Arnaud is not in Sunday's lineup against the Padres.

He is hitting .206 with one home run, 12 strikeouts and one walk in 34 at-bats this month. William Contreras gets the start behind the dish, hitting eighth.

Perez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in a loss to Colorado on Saturday.

Perez's two-run shot temporarily tied the score 3-3 in the third inning, though the Royals eventually lost in a blowout. The long ball was the backstop's his first since April 22 -- a span of 18 games. Perez is far off the pace that led to a career-high 48 homers last season, but his six long balls match Daulton Varsho for the lead in the category among catcher-eligible players.

Stephenson left Saturday's game against the Pirates after taking a foul ball off his facemask, but manager David Bell said afterward that Stephenson passed initial concussion tests, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "The report (Saturday night) is no concussion," Bell said. "[Stephenson] was examined by the doctors here. We'll have him re-evaluated just to be sure, but that's a real relief in a big way. That's very scary. We caught a break there."

As Goldsmith notes, Stephenson has suffered three concussions in his playing career, including one earlier this season in a collision at home plate with the Padres' Luke Voit. Another one in such a short span could be devastating, so even if Stephenson's follow-up tests are clear as well, the Reds may look to ease his workload behind the plate for a stretch. In light of his concussion history, it's reasonable to think Stephenson could end up replacing Joey Votto as the team's primary first baseman in time.

Smith (pectoral) will bat cleanup and serve as the designated hitter Saturday against the Phillies, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Smith hit the bench Friday due to a minor pectoral issue, with reports at the time indicating that he'd return as the designated hitter Saturday. That's indeed the case, with Austin Barnes set for another start behind the plate, but Smith is reportedly already penciled in as the catcher for the Dodgers' next three games.

Diaz isn't starting Saturday against the Royals, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Diaz has gone 0-for-9 with a run and three strikeouts over his last two games, and he'll be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Dom Nunez will start behind the plate and bat ninth.

Nido isn't starting Saturday against the Mariners.

Nido started in the last three games and went 2-for-9 with an RBI, a walk and two strikeouts. Patrick Mazeika will take over behind the plate and bat ninth Saturday.

Heineman was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

The 30-year-old served as catching depth for the Blue Jays over the last month, but he'll head back to the minors after Danny Jansen (oblique) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. Heineman went 4-for-15 with two doubles, two runs, an RBI and four strikeouts over 10 major-league games and should see more consistent playing time in Buffalo.

Jansen (oblique) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and is starting Saturday against the Rays.

Jansen spent just over a month on the injured list with an oblique injury but recently completed a rehab stint at Single-A Dunedin in which he went 3-for-10 with two doubles and four runs. The 27-year-old should serve as the primary catcher now that he's healthy, while Alejandro Kirk should see additional at-bats as the designated hitter.