MLB Player News

Stassi is not in the lineup Monday against the Astros.

Stassi started the past two games and will receive a day to reset after going 0-for-7 with a walk and six strikeouts. Kurt Suzuki will work behind the plate for the Halos.

Narvaez is out of the lineup Monday against the Cardinals.

Narvaez and Manny Pina have alternated starts behind the plate over the past week, and that trend will continue Monday after Narvaez went 1-for-5 while starting Sunday's contest.

Herrera was promoted to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

Herrera posted a lackluster .231 batting average across 98 games at Double-A Springfield this year, but he recorded hits in each of his last seven appearances and hit .382 with two home runs, two doubles, seven runs and seven RBI during that time. Since the Double-A season has concluded, he'll now appear in game action for a few more weeks in Memphis.

The Astros promoted Lee from Double-A Corpus Christi to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.

Houston's top catching prospect will advance to his third affiliate of the season after beginning the campaign at High-A Asheville. Since receiving a promotion to Double-A in mid-June, Lee hit .254 with eight home runs and three stolen bases while walking at an 8.4 percent clip.

The Reds selected Kolozsvary's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Monday.

Kolozsvary will assume the 40-man roster spot and 28-man active roster spot of Tyler Stephenson, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday, presumably for reasons related to COVID-19. The Reds are expected to lean heavily on No. 1 backstop Tucker Barnhart while Stephenson is out, likely leaving Kolozsvary to pick up one or two starts per week. Between stops at Louisville and Double-A Chattanooga in 2021, the 26-year-old backstop slashed .219/.327/.411 with seven home runs in 55 games.

The Reds placed Stephenson on the injured list without a designation Monday.

Though Stephenson typically starts against left-handed pitchers, he wasn't included in the lineup for Cincinnati's series opener Monday with the Pirates, who are starting southpaw Dillon Peters. Stephenson's move to the IL explains why he was absent from the lineup, and the lack of a designation attached to his name implies that he's been ruled out for a reason related to COVID-19. Cincinnati called up Mark Kolozsvary from Triple-A Louisville to serve as the No. 2 catcher behind Tucker Barnhart while Stephenson is on the shelf.

Jackson isn't starting Monday's game against the Nationals.

Jackson started Sunday's series finale against the Pirates and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Payton Henry will start behind the plate and bat seventh.

Kirk will start at catcher and bat sixth Monday against the Rays.

Kirk was on the bench for each of the past three games, but he'll step back in behind the dish to catch Cy Young candidate Robbie Ray in Monday's series opener. Though Kirk remains Toronto's top hitting catcher, Danny Jansen's superior defense may make him the more useful asset for a Blue Jays lineup that already boasts plenty of quality bats. Expect the two to remain part of a timeshare the rest of the way.

Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday in an 8-5 win over the Reds.

Smith's solo shot to left field in the second inning accounted for the first run of the game. It was his 25th homer of the campaign, which leads all National League catchers and ranks third among MLB backstops. Smith has complemented the power production with a solid .270/.380/.521 slash line, 72 RBI and three stolen bases.

Hedges will start at catcher and bat eighth in the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Royals.

Since Cleveland brought back Roberto Perez from the injured list last week, Hedges has fallen back into a near-even timeshare at catcher. The two backstops have now alternated starts across the last seven contests, and that trend should continue in the nightcap, when Perez presumably gets the nod over Hedges.