MLB Player News

Knizner, making his first start of the season in Tuesday's win over the Nationals, went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run.

Coming into the season, Yadier Molina was projected to cede starting duties behind the dish more often than in the past, but until Tuesday, the ageless veteran's hot bat had kept him in the lineup for each of the Cardinals' first 10 games. Knizner made good use of his opportunity, however, following a 1-for-4 start to the season as a pinch hitter/defensive replacement in three other contests.

Contreras isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Contreras blasted a key home run in Tuesday's win over Milwaukee, but he'll get a breather for Wednesday's series finale. Austin Romine will start behind the dish, batting eighth.

Vazquez isn't in the lineup for Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Twins on Wednesday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Vazquez has gone just 2-for-14 with a run, one RBI and three strikeouts in the past three contests. Kevin Plawecki will start behind the dish and bat ninth for the first game of Wednesday's twin bill.

Gallagher will start at catcher and bat eighth Wednesday against the Angels.

Kansas City is wrapping up its series with the Angels with a day game after a night game, so Gallagher will check in behind the dish for the first time all season in place of No. 1 catcher Salvador Perez. The Royals will still keep Perez's bat in the lineup as a designated hitter Wednesday, and he'll likely continue to shoulder one of the heavier workloads in baseball among catchers. As a result, Gallagher likely won't have the opportunity to play more than once a week when Perez is healthy.

Stallings went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, three RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Padres.

Stallings got the Pirates on the board in the first with a two-run double off the wall in left field and came around to score after Erik Gonzalez launched a double of his own the very next at-bat. The 31-year-old tallied his third RBI of the game the following inning on a single to right, stretching the Pirates' lead to 5-3. Stallings had a rocky start to the year, as he managed just two hits in his first 14 at-bats, but he's come to life recently with eight hits, five RBI and four runs scored in his last five games.

Murphy went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Orioles.

He took John Means deep in the second inning for his first homer of the year. Murphy has had a sluggish start to the year, ceding playing time to Luis Torrens in the process, but he appears to be turning things around at the plate a bit, as he's 4-for-13 over his last four games.

Contreras went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Brewers.

The Cubs were stymied by Milwaukee starter Brandon Woodruff, scoring just one run across six innings, but Contreras hit a two-run shot off of Brent Suter in the eighth that ultimately gave Chicago a 3-2 win. It was the second home run of the season for the veteran catcher, who has recorded a hit in five straight games, lifting his season average to .226. That number should continue to climb, and Contreras can be counted on for solid production at his position if he stays healthy.

McCann is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Phillies, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

McCann started behind the plate and went 1-for-4 during the matinee, so it's not a surprise he's taking a seat for the nightcap. Tomas Nido will catch for Marcus Stroman in Game 2.

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

Narvaez is off to a hot start following a very disappointing 2020 campaign, as he's posted a 1.197 OPS through 29 plate appearances. He's been the clear No. 1 option behind the plate thus far this season, starting seven of the first 11 games. Manny Pina will make his fourth start of the year Tuesday.

Maldonado agreed to a one-year contract extension with Houston on Tuesday that includes a vesting option for 2023, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Maldonado is a defensive stalwart and brings excellent makeup to the clubhouse, which is good, because he doesn't bring much to the table as a hitter. The 34-year-old backstop has a career .217/.291/.352 slash line, and 2020 is the lone year in his career that he hit better than league average (110 wRC+).