MLB Player News

Barrera was optioned to Washington's taxi squad Friday.

The 26-year-old was added to the roster last week following Washington's COVID-19 outbreak, but he's one of four players returning to the taxi squad Friday. Barrera appeared in one game and went 0-for-2.

Gomes was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday.

The 33-year-old missed the first three games of the season due to contract tracing but will rejoin the team Friday after clearing the COVID-19 protocols. According to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, Gomes won't start in his first game back with Jonathan Lucroy working behind the plate instead.

Diaz is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

The 30-year-old will take a seat for the second straight contest with Dom Nunez receiving another start behind the plate for Colorado. Diaz started Opening Day for the Rockies, but he's started only two games since while Nunez receives his fifth start of the season Friday.

Mejia, who went 1-for-3 with a double and a run against the Red Sox on Wednesday, has hit safely in all three of his starts thus far.

The reserve backstop is hitting .333 (3-for-9) in the early going, with his two-bagger Wednesday serving as his first extra-base hit of the campaign. Mejia also has two walks and has yet to strike out over his first 11 plate appearances, making him the polar opposite of free-swinging position mate Mike Zunino in that regard.

Vazquez went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a stolen base and a run scored Thursday against the Orioles.

Vazquez has hit very well to start the season, with Thursday's effort marking his third multi-hit effort in his last four games. Even more surprising is Vazquez's newfound aggressiveness on the basepaths, as he stole third base in the first inning for his second steal of the campaign. Despite an eye injury that affected him during spring training, Vazquez has stood out as a potential difference maker at the catcher position early on.

Garver went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, a double and another run scored during Thursday's win over Seattle.

Garver swatted the homer against Marco Gonzales in the third inning, then doubled in the fifth. It's been a relatively slow start to the season for the 30-year-old backstop, who has tallied two homers while batting just .222.

Maldonado is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Houston will build in an extended rest for its top catcher, as Maldonado will head to the bench following Wednesday's off day. Maldonado should check back in behind the plate for Friday's contest, but Jason Castro will catch Cristian Javier in the series opener.

Stassi isn't starting Thursday's game against the Blue Jays, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Stassi has gone 4-for-11 with a solo home run and two strikeouts this year but will sit out for the third time in the last five games. Kurt Suzuki will start at catcher Thursday, batting eighth.

Diaz isn't starting Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Diaz was the Rockies' Opening Day starter behind the plate, but he's now started just two of the last six games. Dom Nunez will serve as the starting catcher Thursday, batting eighth.

Trevino went 2-for-4 and scored a run in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Toronto.

The catcher is now an impressive 7-for-17 in 2021 after starting four of the Rangers' six games. Trevino was an unremarkable offensive player in his first three seasons, never hitting higher than .258; however, he's been one of his team's best hitters early this season. Four games is too small a sample size to deem Trevino a valuable fantasy asset, but that may change if he continues getting on base and begins driving in runs.