MLB Player News

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks.

D'Arnaud has handled a heavy workload for a catcher so far this season, as Friday's game marks just his fourth time out of the lineup through Atlanta's first 19 games. He's performed beneath the high standards he set in recent seasons thus far, hitting just .197/.231/.344. Alex Jackson will get the nod behind the plate Friday.

Narvaez is not in the lineup Friday against the Cubs, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old went 6-for-12 with a homer, a double and four RBI while starting all three games in San Diego earlier in the week, so he'll receive an extra day off Friday after Thursday's scheduled off day. Manny Pina will start behind the plate in place of Narvaez in the series opener at Chicago.

Nido has seven plate appearances through six games to begin the season, going 1-for-6 with a triple and a strikeout.

James McCann has seen a heavy workload in the early going, but he's still been able to get plenty of rest thanks to the Mets' erratic schedule. That's left few opportunities for Nido to slot into the lineup, but the 27-year-old will be needed more often over the summer. His career .559 OPS in 102 big-league games doesn't give him much fantasy appeal even as a DFS punt option, however.

Stallings went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Thursday's 4-2 win over Detroit.

After starting the season batting .333 in his first 10 games, Stallings is hitless in his last 18 at-bats. He remains the team's primary option at catcher over Michael Perez, so he could hurt fantasy teams until he regains his early April batting stroke. Stallings is slashing .208/.345/.292 in 55 plate appearances.

Casali went 1-for-3 with two RBI in Thursday's win over the Marlins.

He made the most of his lone knock of the contest, plating Evan Longoria and Darin Ruf to make it a 3-0 game for the Giants in the first inning, although Casali's bat went silent the rest of the way. He has recorded just three hits in 24 at-bats this season, and he can't be counted on to produce offensively on a consistent basis.

Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and two runs scored Thursday against Cleveland.

Higashioka drew the start in the opening game of the team's series against Cleveland and played a big role in the victory. He began the third inning with a leadoff double and later came around to score. Five frames later, he provided an insurance run with a solo homer -- his third long ball of the campaign. Higashioka figures to draw backup reps at catcher, but he's taken advantage of his opportunities to hit .353/.376/1.000 across 21 plate appearances this season. While that's not sustainable, it could force the Yankees to consider giving him more playing time.

Stassi (thumb) is traveling with the Angels on their current road trip and could be close to returning to action, Taylor Blake Ward of Locked on Angels reports.

Stassi is eligible to come off the injured list Friday, and it looks like he may not be far from a return. The veteran backstop hasn't played since April 12, when he left a game against the Royals with left thumb irritation. Kurt Suzuki has been filling in as the primary catcher for the Angels in Stassi's stead.

Wallach will start at catcher and bat eighth in Thursday's lineup against the Giants, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Wallach was expected to see an uptick in playing time after Jorge Alfaro (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. However, Sandy Leon drew the first start in Alfaro's absence, so it remains to be seen how the playing time behind the dish will be split.

Caratini isn't starting Thursday's game against the Dodgers.

Caratini will retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three games after he went 1-for-4 with a double, one RBI and two strikeouts in Wednesday's loss to Milwaukee. Luis Campusano will start behind the plate, batting seventh.

Sanchez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Cleveland, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

Kyle Higashioka will form a battery with Domingo German while Sanchez takes a seat for the series opener. Sanchez was behind the dish for both of the Yankees' games against Atlanta earlier in the week, going 0-for-7 between the contests to drop his season average to .200.