MLB Player News

Barnhart is not in Thursday's lineup against the Padres.

Barnhart has started the past four games, and will get a day off Thursday as Ramon Cabrera will man the catching duties. He had a rough road trip, going 3-for-27 at the plate, but the 25-year-old has provided a consistent presence behind the plate for the Reds this season.

Contreras will make his first major league start at first base, batting fourth, against Miami on Thursday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Contreras has generated plenty of excitement since his call up on June 17, smashing two homers and driving in five runs in only nine at-bats. He'll bring a four game hit streak into Thursday's game as he faces off against Miami hurler, Wei-Yin Chen.

Rupp is out of the lineup Thursday against the Twins, Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal reports.

He had started the last four games, and seven of the last nine, so Carlos Ruiz will get the nod in the day game following Wednesday's night game. Rupp has surprisingly returned solid value so far, especially when factoring in how much of a wasteland the catcher position has been this season. His .262 average may not be sustainable, but he should be able to hit double-digit homers this year for the first time since he hit 10 in High-A back in 2012.

Leon is out of the lineup Thursday against the Red Sox, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

Leon has made back-to-back starts behind the plate, going 1-for-5 at the plate with three walks and two runs scored. He'll give way to Christian Vazquez for the afternoon contest.

Rupp went 1-for-4 with a solo homer Wednesday at the Twins.

Rupp's sixth bomb of the year tied the game at one in the second inning of a game the Phillies would go on to lose. He's now homered in back-to-back games to raise his slash line to .262/.291/,458.

Diaz (elbow) has resumed more of his normal baseball activities including hitting and catching, and will begin to throw to bases in the near future, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Diaz started throwing at 120 feet last week and seems to be progressing well from a right elbow injury that has caused him to miss all of the 2016 season thus far. He decided to undergo surgery in early May and is still on pace to return just after the All-Star break around mid-July.

Gomes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

Chris Gimenez will take over behind the dish for the Indians on Wednesday with Gomes getting the day off. Gomes had made four consecutive starts at catcher coming into Wednesday, so manager Terry Francona likely wanted to get Gimenez some playing time. The Brazilian native, Gomes, is slashing .220/.250/.360 through 50 June at-bats.

McCann will get the day off Wednesday as Jarrod Saltalamacchia will start behind the dish for the Tigers.

McCann, hitting just .202 on the season, has collected five RBI over the last 10 days for the Tigers. He'll continue to get the majority of starts at catcher for the Tigers.

Hedges collected three hits, including a home run and four RBI, for Triple-A El Paso Tuesday.

Hedges continues to swing a hot bat, hitting .361 with three home runs and nine RBI in his last 10 games. Hedges, not really known for his hit tool, should see time behind the plate with the Padres at some point this season. In limited time with the Padres last season, Hedges hit only .168 with three home runs and 11 RBI in 137 at-bats.

Realmuto is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game with the Braves.

Realmuto will get the day off after catching the last two games. Jeff Mathis will start behind the plate in his stead and bat eighth.