MLB Player News

Smith will sit Thursday against the Phillies, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Smith will get a rest after starting four straight games behind the plate. Austin Barnes will take over in his absence.

McCann will sit for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

It's no surprise to see that McCann won't be asked to catch two games in one day. Tomas Nido will catch Marcus Stroman in the first game, but McCann should return to the lineup for the second.

Barrera is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Mets.

Barrera will be on the bench for the front end of the twin bill while Riley Adams catches for Washington, but the 26-year-old should start behind the plate for the second game. While the Nationals wait for veteran Alex Avila (calf) to come off the injured list, Barrera and Adams are likely to remain locked into a timeshare at catcher.

Plawecki has earned a bump in playing time lately, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Plawecki was getting increased playing even before Christian Vazquez landed on the bereavement list Wednesday. "On a team that offensively has struggled the last month or month and 10 days, we need his at-bats," manager Alex Cora said Wednesday. "They're quality at-bats. It's not a knock on Christian [Vazquez]. It's actually where we're at." Plawecki is hitting .385 (15-of-39) since the All-Star break and has made four consecutive starts (one at DH).

Narvaez went 3-for-3 with a home run, four total RBI, two total runs and a walk in Wednesday's 10-0 rout of the Cubs.

The backstop capitalized on favorable opportunities early, collecting an RBI with a first-inning single and plating another with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. He then put the icing on a blowout win with a two-run homer to right field in the ninth inning. Narvaez has been one of the game's top offensive catchers this season, boasting a .290/.377/.463 slash line with 11 homers and 39 RBI. Over his past 10 games, he is batting .316 with three homers, 12 RBI and 12 runs.

Realmuto is being evaluated for a concussion after leaving Wednesday's loss to the Dodgers, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Realmuto was removed from the contest after being struck in the mask by a pair of foul tips during the top of the first inning, so it's not a surprise he's being checked for a concussion. Andrew Knapp is poised to operate as Philadelphia's top catcher should Realmuto be forced to miss any time.

Stassi had X-rays on his left forearm come back negative after being hit by a pitch during Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Daniel Guerrero of MLB.com reports.

Stassi went 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts before being hit by a pitch during the sixth inning and exiting the contest. The 30-year-old should be considered day-to-day since he appears to have avoided a serious injury.

McGuire is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Angels.

McGuire took a seat for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader after starting the matinee, and he'll sit for the second straight contest Wednesday. Alejandro Kirk will work behind the plate for Toronto.

McCann isn't starting the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McCann played in Wednesday's matinee and went 0-for-4. He'll get a breather for Game 2, while Tomas Nido will start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Realmuto was forced out of Wednesday's game against the Dodgers after taking a couple of foul tips to the mask, according to the game broadcast.

There's a decent chance he's being evaluated for a head injury. Since it happened in the top of the first inning, Realmuto won't even see an at-bat on his Wednesday ledger.