MLB Player News

Contreras went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's loss to the Reds.

Cincinnati's Robert Stephenson threw a high fastball in the ninth -- not too high for Contreras, who put the ball out to center field on a line drive. Contreras' season numbers are not impressive, but he now has two home runs in his last three games and we're still at the point where a few big games can change the narrative quickly.

Caratini is catching and batting eighth in Friday's game against the Reds.

The Cubs will deploy Willson Contreras as the DH Friday, which opens up catching duties for Caratini. The 27-year-old has played regularly so far this season, posting a .270/.361/.349 slash line in 23 games to date. He's still looking for his first home run after popping 11 in 95 games last year.

Contreras is the designated hitter and batting fifth in Friday's game against the Cubs.

Contreras will get a night off behind the plate, with Victor Caratini handling catching duties. After a strong summer camp, Contreras has yet to really get going for the Cubs, as he's slashing just .207/.321/.370 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 29 games so far.

Gomes is not in the lineup Friday at Boston.

Gomes and Kurt Suzuki have alternated starts over the past week, and that trend continues Friday after Gomes went 2-for-4 with a strikeout during Wednesday's contest.

Perez (eye) visited an eye specialist this week and remains without an official timeline for his return, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

The 30-year-old was diagnosed with central serious chorioretinopathy (fluid accumulation under the retina) after landing on the injured list Aug. 18, but there's been no indication of when he may be able to rejoin the team. Perez is eligible to be activated off the injured list Friday, but he should be considered out indefinitely until the team indicates otherwise. Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria should continue to split catching duties during his absence.

Narvaez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a 6-1 loss to the Reds during the first game of Thursday's doubleheader.

His sixth-inning shot off Nate Jones ruined a combined shutout bid by the Cincy staff. Narvaez only has two homers on the season to go along with a tepid .175 batting average, but they've both come in the last three games, and he's gone 5-for-14 over his last four with two doubles in addition to the two blasts.

Higashioka (oblique) took at-bats and caught in a simulated game at the Yankees' alternate training site Thursday, Conor Foley of the Scranton Times-Tribune reports.

Higashioka has been out since Aug. 8 with a strained right oblique. Manager Aaron Boone indicated Aug. 19 that the backstop wasn't close to returning, but an additional week of recovery seems to have pushed Higashioka to the brink of rejoining the team. Assuming Thursday's session went off without a hitch, Higashioka should come off the injured list in the near future. He would presumably resume his backup role to Gary Sanchez upon his return.

Stallings is not starting Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.

Stallings will retreat to the bench for Game 2 of Thursday's twin bill after catching all nine innings in Game 1 while going 2-for-4 with an RBI. John Ryan Murphy is starting at catcher in this one.

Hedges is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Mariners.

Luis Torrens gets the start behind the dish in this one. Through 17 games this month, Hedges is slashing .235/.333/.529 with three home runs and a stolen base.

Barnhart is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Brewers, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

With Barnhart getting a breather for the front end of the twin bill, Curt Casali will step in behind the dish to catch for starting pitcher Sonny Gray. Look for Barnhart to return to the lineup for Game 2 to catch lefty Wade Miley.