MLB Player News

Smith is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The Dodgers will wrap up their series in Pittsburgh with a day game after a night game, so Smith is just receiving a routine breather after catching all nine innings of Wednesday's 2-1 win. He'll take a seat in favor of Austin Barnes (ankle), who will return from a three-game absence to catch Julio Urias.

Barnes (ankle) will start at catcher and bat eighth Thursday against the Pirates, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Barnes hadn't started since picking up a mild ankle sprain Saturday against Atlanta, but he was still available if needed the past few days while No. 1 backstop Will Smith caught the past three games for Los Angeles. Smith will get a breather for the day game after a night game, paving the way for Barnes to return to action. The 31-year-old should regularly serve as Clayton Kershaw's primary battery mate, but Barnes can't be counted on to pick up more than one or two additional starts per week with Smith clearly entrenched as the starter.

Contreras went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Wednesday's loss against the Phillies.

Contreras has now posted back-to-back three-hit performances. While he's been inconsistent at the plate over the last few weeks, it's worth noting he's hit safely in four of his last five contests. The rookie backstop has six homers while posting a .845 OPS across 103 plate appearances.

Rogers went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and two total runs scored in Wednesday's 9-6 extra-innings loss to Seattle.

The catcher went deep in the fifth inning off Seattle starter Chris Flexen for his second homer of the year. Rogers is slashing .225/.295/.400 with four RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base in 45 plate appearances. He'll continue to split time behind the dish with Eric Haase until one of Wilson Ramos (back) or Grayson Greiner (hamstring) is ready to return.

Stephenson went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI on Wednesday against the Brewers.

Stephenson began the productive effort with an RBI double in the first inning. He followed that up three frames later by driving in two runners with another extra-base knock, giving him seven RBI in his last 10 games. In that same span, he's collected nine hits across 31 at-bats. For the season, Stephenson is hitting .268/.363/.402 with three home runs, 19 runs scored and 16 RBI across 146 plate appearances.

Tromp went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in Wednesday's 4-3, extra-innings loss to the Rangers.

Tromp was the Giants' best offensive player in his second game of the season, as none of his other teammates recorded two hits in the afternoon loss. Backup catcher Curt Casali (wrist) figures to replace Tromp when activated from the injured list, but more performances like Wednesday's could potentially earn Tromp a longer stay on the big-league roster.

Kirk (hip) will serve as the designated hitter in a game at extended spring training Wednesday, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

The 22-year-old has been on the shelf since early May with a strained left hip flexor, but he's progressing to the final stages of his rehab work. Kirk is on the 60-day injured list and isn't eligible to be activated until early July, and he could return when first eligible if he's able to begin a rehab assignment within the next few weeks.

Sanchez is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Twins.

Sanchez has a 1.054 OPS in his past 11 appearances and will receive a breather after starting the last four games. Kyle Higashioka will bat eighth and catch for Gerrit Cole on Wednesday.

Maldonado isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Maldonado was in the lineup for each of the last four games, and he went 4-for-16 with a home run, seven RBI, three runs and six strikeouts during that time. Garrett Stubbs will start at catcher and bat ninth.

Stallings is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Stallings will get a breather after he caught four of the last five games for the Pirates. Michael Perez steps in behind the dish Wednesday, working in a battery with starting pitcher Tyler Anderson.