MLB Player News

Smith (hand) will start behind home plate and bat eighth for Game 6 of the NLCS against the Mets on Sunday, Noah Camras of DodgersNation.com reports.

Smith received X-rays on his left hand after taking a foul ball off his glove in the seventh inning of Game 5. The results came back negative, and Smith will serve behind home plate as the Dodgers turn to Michael Kopech and the rest of the bullpen. Smith has gone 3-for-19 with two walks and two RBI during the NLCS.

Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Smith received X-rays on his left hand after taking a foul ball off his catching hand in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Mets, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Roberts relayed that the foul ball hitting Smith's left hand led to the catcher being lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning of Friday's game. The X-rays on Smith's hand came back negative, and the 29-year-old is expected to be in the lineup for Game 6 on Sunday. Smith has gone 5-for-35 with six walks, one home run and four RBI during the postseason.

Naylor is not in the lineup Friday for Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

The Yankees are starting a righty in Luis Gil, but the left-handed-hitting Naylor will yield to Austin Hedges at catcher for the second straight game. Naylor is hitless in his six starts this postseason but delivered a pinch hit in Thursday's comeback win.

Wells is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS against the Guardians.

Wells is just 2-for-24 so far during the playoffs and also ended the regular season in a 2-for-41 drought at the dish. He will yield to Jose Trevino at catcher as the Guardians send southpaw Matthew Boyd to the bump.

Naylor isn't in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS versus the Yankees, Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Naylor has gone 0-for-14 through seven postseason games so far, so the Guardians will sit him down in favor of Austin Hedges in an effort to get some offensive production from behind the plate.

The Orioles re-signed Banuelos to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Banuelos had a couple brief stints in the majors in 2024, receiving one plate appearance. He slashed .225/.360/.352 with two homers in 22 contests with Triple-A Norfolk and is likely headed back there to begin the 2025 campaign.

Rogers (wrist) will start at catcher and bat eighth Saturday in Game 5 of the ALDS versus Cleveland.

Rogers was removed from Game 4 due to a wrist injury, but X-rays came back negative after the game. He'll now attempt to play through any lingering soreness and continue his semi-hot streak, as he's gone 5-for-18 during the postseason.

Rogers expects to be ready to play in Game 5 of the ALDS versus the Guardians on Saturday after X-rays on his left wrist came back negative, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Rogers was hit in the wrist area by a couple foul tips in Thursday's Game 4 loss, but he received treatment Friday and is feeling better than expected. The catcher has started all six postseason games for the Tigers, going 5-for-18 with one RBI at the plate. If he's deemed to be unavailable Saturday, rookie Dillon Dingler would get his first career postseason start behind the plate.

Rogers had his wrist and forearm wrapped following Thursday's loss to the Guardians, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Rogers was pinch-hit for in the ninth inning, though that appeared to be for an offensive upgrade rather than due to injury. He's set to undergo X-rays, which could dictate his availability for a decisive Game 5 in the ALDS on Saturday.

Brewers general manager Matt Arnold revealed Thursday that Contreras playing through a minor knee sprain during the team's wild-card series loss to the Mets, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.

Contreras didn't have to miss any time because of the injury, but it did force a move from catcher to the designated hitter spot in Game 3 of the series. He will not require surgery on the knee and is expected to be fine by the time spring training rolls around with an offseason of rest.