MLB Player News

Smith went 3-for-3 with a solo homer, two doubles and six RBI in a 9-3 win over the Nationals on Saturday.

Smith connected for his fourth homer off Joe Ross in the third inning, hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and mashed two-run doubles in the sixth and seventh innings to lead the Dodgers. It was his first start since being recalled and named primary catcher. Over the full season, the 24-year-old now holds a .345/.394/.862 slash line in just 29 at-bats.

Grandal is not in Saturday's lineup against the Cubs.

Grandal has started the past four games, going 4-for-13 with three RBI and a 3:2 BB:K during that stretch. Manny Pina is starting behind the dish and hitting seventh in this one.

Diaz is not in the lineup Saturday against the Mets.

Diaz heads to the bench as he continues to split time over the past week with Jacob Stallings, who is starting at catcher Saturday and batting eighth. Diaz has been in a slump in the 13 games since the All-Star break, recording a .154 on-base percentage with nine strikeouts and one extra-base hit.

McGuire was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Luke Maile (strained oblique) landed on the injured list in a corresponding move, so McGuire will serve as the Jays' backup catcher in the short term. He is hopping on a flight but will not make it to Toronto before the first pitch against the Rays.

Maile was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with left oblique strain, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

He suffered the injury during batting practice Saturday. Reese McGuire will be promoted from Triple-A in a corresponding move and will replace Maile as the backup catcher in Toronto.

Murphy, who was just added back to Triple-A Las Vegas' active roster Wednesday after recovering from a knee injury, went 3-for-5 with three home runs and six RBI in a 20-11 win over El Paso on Friday.

The wild slugfest was a microcosm of life in the Pacific Coast League this season, but Murphy's trio of round trippers was an undeniably impressive feat and came after he homered Thursday as well. The promising backstop has been effective for the Aviators when he has been healthy in 2019, slashing .341/.412/.610 across 21 games.

Barnhart is not in the lineup Saturday at home against the Rockies.

The 28-year-old is absent from the lineup just one day after returning from an oblique injury that landed him on the 10-day injured list. It appears to be just a routine day off for Barnhart as he's eased back from his injury. Ryan Lavarnway will start at catcher, batting ninth.

D'Arnaud went 1-for-4 with a two-run single in a win over the Blue Jays on Friday.

The hot-hitting veteran snapped a 1-1 tie with infield single in the fifth inning, plating the two runs that would ultimately prove to be the final margin of victory for the Rays. It's been a momentous July for d'Arnaud, who's driven in 18 runs with the help of nine extra-base hits (three doubles, six home runs) while drawing starts at both catcher and first base.

Contreras went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and a second run scored for Double-A Mississippi on Friday.

Promoted to the Southern League a little over a month ago, Contreras had some initial struggles at the new level but has gone 12-for-26 with a sharp 4:2 BB:K over his last eight games, homering in both of the last two contests. The 21-year-old remains the most exciting catcher in the Atlanta system from a fantasy perspective, although he has some real-life competition from the club's 2019 first-round pick, defensive whiz Shea Langeliers.

Hedges went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Giants.

Hedges delivered a game-tying solo shot off Giants starter Jeff Samardzija in the fifth inning, but that was the only run the Padres managed to plate. Hedges has gone 6-for-18 with two homers, six RBI and two doubles in his last six games, dating back to July 7. For the year, the catcher has a .195/.260/.344 batting line with eight homers, 29 RBI and 18 runs scored in 66 games while splitting time with Francisco Mejia behind the dish.