MLB Player News

Smith isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Smith will head to the bench after going hitless in Thursday's season opener. Russell Martin is set to handle the catching duties and bat eighth.

Mejia isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against San Francisco.

There's been no word of an injury for Mejia, but this marks his third consecutive day on the bench. Austin Hedges will handle the catching duties and bat eighth.

Thaiss is not starting Friday against Boston.

Thaiss has gone 2-for-17 at the plate over his last seven games. David Fletcher starts at third base in his absence.

Narvaez is not starting Friday against Texas.

Narvaez hits the bench for the third time in four games. Tom Murphy gets the start behind the plate.

Stallings is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies.

Stallings started the last two contests and will take a maintenance day Friday. Elias Diaz starts behind the plate for the Pirates.

Jansen is not in the lineup Friday against Houston.

Jansen has just one hit in his last five starts. Reese McGuire gets the call behind the plate in his absence for the fourth time in six games.

Garver sits for the second straight game Friday against the Tigers.

Garver's days off come on the back of a stretch of four consecutive starts. Jason Castro remains the starter behind the plate Friday.

Hedges went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Thursday's win over San Francisco.

Hedges launched a two-run shot to left center field in the fourth inning to plate the Padres' final runs of the game. The hit snapped an 0-for-13 skid that stretched back to Aug. 20. Hedges is San Diego's best defensive option behind the plate but has struggled mightily as a hitter this season, slashing .189/.254/.340 with 10 homers, 33 RBI and 92 strikeouts in 285 plate appearances.

Caratini went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in a win over the Mets on Thursday.

Caratini drove in all four Cubs runs and accounted for half of the team's hits in the win. Both long balls came against 2018 Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, including a three-run blast in the seventh inning that broke open a 1-1 tie. After struggling to start August, Caratini has found a groove over his last five games, going 9-for-17 with three home runs.

D'Arnaud went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Thursday's win over Houston.

D'Arnaud single-handedly accounted for Zack Greinke's worst start as an Astro, torching the All-Star pitcher for a pair of run-scoring singles and a two-run homer. The long ball was d'Arnaud's first in August after he launched eight homers in a splendid July. Overall, the 30-year-old is slashing .253/.320/.447 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI in stints with the Mets, Dodgers and Rays this season.