MLB Player News

Barnes went 3-for-4 with one RBI in Sunday's 14-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Barnes' three-hit game was a small bright spot in an otherwise awful performance for the Dodgers. The backup catcher has gone 5-for-8 over three contests since he returned from a fractured big toe sustained in mid-August. Through 139 plate appearances, Barnes is slashing .266/.336/.315 with one home run, 11 RBI, 10 runs scored and two stolen bases. He is unlikely to challenge Will Smith for a starting role, but Barnes should be expected in the lineup any time the Dodgers have a day game immediately after a night game.

McCann went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's win against the Rockies.

McCann accounted for Baltimore's only two extra-base hits during the 6-1 victory. He ripped a two-run homer in the fourth inning followed by a double in the ninth. It was his fifth home run of the year and second in his last five appearances. McCann is slashing .223/.270/.348 with 13 extra-base hits and 22 RBI through 200 plate appearances.

The Orioles selected Banuelos' contract from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.

The addition of Banuelos gives Baltimore some extra insurance at catcher behind Adley Rutschman and James McCann, but the 27-year-old will likely play sparingly until the Orioles' playoff positioning is solidified. Banuelos -- who previously made his big-league debut in April before being cast off the 40-man roster -- has slashed .225/.360/.352 over 86 plate appearances with Norfolk this season.

D'Arnaud will start at catcher and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Atlanta's timeshare at catcher has tilted in favor of d'Arnaud lately, as he'll pick up his sixth start in nine games Sunday. D'Arnaud holds an 89-point edge in OPS (.774 to .685) over Murphy this season, and that disparity may be enough for the former to see the larger share of playing time behind the dish despite the latter's bigger contract.

Murphy is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Murphy has now started just three times in nine games and may be moving into the shorter side of a timeshare at catcher with Travis d'Arnaud. The 29-year-old backstop has been a major disappointment in the second season of a six-year, $73 million contract, having submitted a career-low .685 OPS through 210 plate appearances for Atlanta.

Del Castillo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

The lefty-hitting Del Castillo will hit the bench for the third time in four games, with each of those absences coming against left-handed pitchers. The rookie backstop still appears to be locked into the strong side of a platoon with Jose Herrera while top catcher Gabriel Moreno (adductor) is on the injured list.

Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Austin Barnes will spell Smith behind the dish after the latter catcher started in both of the first two games of the series. Despite banging out two hits in Saturday's 8-6 win, Smith still endured a tough August, slashing just .194/.298/.319 with two home runs, 10 RBI and 12 runs on the month.

O'Hoppe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.

O'Hoppe is getting a routine day off after he had started behind the plate in the first two contests of the series. Matt Thaiss will handle the catching duties in the series finale.

The Giants recalled Sabol from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.

The addition of Sabol gives the Giants a third catcher behind Patrick Bailey and Curt Casali who's also capable of filling in at first base or in the corner outfield in a pinch. Sabol spent the entire 2023 season on the Giants' roster as a Rule 5 selection, but he's logged just 38 plate appearances over 11 games with the big club in 2024.

Bailey is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Bailey will get a breather for the day game after he had started at catcher in each of the Giants' three contests while going 1-for-11 with four strikeouts following his return from the injured list Thursday. Curt Casali will check in for Bailey behind the plate.