MLB Player News
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Diagnosed with fracture
Imaging revealed a hairline fracture in Smith's right hand Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Manager Dave Roberts added that it's doubtful Smith will be able to play again during the regular season, and he's unsure whether the backstop will be ready for the postseason. If Smith is ultimately sidelined the rest of the way, the 30-year-old will finish the year with a .296/.404/.497 slash line alongside 17 homers, 61 RBI and 64 runs scored over 110 games. Ben Rortvedt has been receiving the bulk of playing time at catcher with Smith out and will likely continue to do so for the final week of the regular season.
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Carson Kelly C | CHC
Cubs' Carson Kelly: Resting up Saturday
Kelly isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Cincinnati.
Kelly will receive a day off Saturday after going 2-for-4 with a strikeout during Friday's loss. Reese McGuire will catch for starter Javier Assad instead and bat ninth.
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Exiting starting nine
Stephenson is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Cubs.
Stephenson started Thursday's series opener and helped steer Hunter Greene to a shutout, but he'll get a breather in the second game of the series. Jose Trevino is at catcher and batting eighth for the Reds.
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Hunter Goodman RF | COL
Rockies' Hunter Goodman: Picking back up at home
Goodman went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored Wednesday against the Marlins.
Goodman had a quiet road trip through mid-September, going only 3-for-23 across a seven-game span ending Sept. 14. However, he's gotten back on track since returning home, going 4-for-9 with a double and a run scored across two games. Goodman has had an impressive breakout season and is hitting well to close things out, blasting four home runs with 11 RBI and seven runs scored while hitting .321 across 14 games in September.
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Rafael Flores C | PIT
Pirates' Rafael Flores: Reaches base twice in debut
Flores went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk Wednesday against the Cubs.
Flores was acquired by the Pirates as the primary return for David Bednar at the trade deadline and made his debut Wednesday. He filled in at first base with a lefty on the mound, and he hit a double to straightaway center field in the third inning for his first big-league hit. Flores will likely continue to find his way into the lineup as he auditions for a potential roster spot in 2026.
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Agustin Ramirez C | MIA
Marlins' Agustin Ramirez: Clubs homer in victory
Ramirez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Wednesday's 8-4 win against the Rockies.
Ramirez's first RBI came on a sacrifice fly that snapped a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning. Two frames later, he provided a pair of insurance runs with a two-run blast to left-center field. Ramirez extended his hitting streak to eight games with the homer, and he's batting an even .300 (9-for-30) with two long balls and six RBI during that stretch. He's been a valuable contributor at the catcher position for fantasy managers, posting a .231/.289/.420 slash line with 21 home runs, 29 doubles, 67 runs, 66 RBI and 12 stolen bases over 126 games as a rookie.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Won't return when eligible
Smith (hand) will not be reinstated from the injured list once he's eligible to return Saturday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Smith has resumed catching bullpen sessions but hasn't yet progressed to hitting or throwing. With so many hurdles to clear and only three days remaining before he can come off the IL, it makes sense that the Dodgers plan to keep him on the shelf for a more-than-minimum stay. In the meantime, Dalton Rushing and Ben Rortvedt will continue to start behind the plate for Los Angeles.
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J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: Returning Wednesday
Realmuto (illness) will start at catcher and bat fourth Wednesday against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
After sitting out Tuesday's contest due to an illness, Realmuto seems to be feeling well enough to return to the starting nine Wednesday. The 34-year-old backstop has been in a rough patch at the plate recently, slashing .233/.327/.326 across 52 plate appearances since the start of September.