MLB Player News

Rodriguez is not in the lineup for Friday's tilt versus the Cubs, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

The Pirates have now gone with Jason Delay at catcher for two of the last three games, although Rodriguez did appear as a pinch-hitter in the first of those contests he didn't start. Rodriguez also caught all 10 frames of Thursday's extra-innings loss to the Cubs, but he'll begin this one on the bench.

Realmuto is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.

The Phillies were off Thursday, so Realmuto will receive two days of rest to recharge his battery. Garrett Stubbs will do the catching for Cristopher Sanchez.

Moreno went 3-for-4 in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Reds.

Moreno's surged at the plate over the past week, hitting safely in five of six games, including multiple hits in four. He's 10-for-24 with a double, two home runs and seven RBI over that stretch. Moreno's put up a respectable line during his first full season in the majors, slashing .282/.321/.392 over 83 games. His emergence prompted to the Diamondbacks to move on from Carson Kelly, who served as the club's primary catcher the four previous seasons.

Casali (foot) was removed from his minor-league rehab assignment Thursday.

Casali isn't immediately rejoining the Reds' 26-man active roster, so he might have suffered a setback of some sort. The veteran catcher landed on the 10-day injured list in late July because of a left foot contusion.

Smith is not in the lineup for Thursday's later game at Cleveland.

Smith caught all nine innings and went 0-for-4 with an RBI sac fly in Wednesday's rain-suspended 6-1 win, which had to be concluded Thursday afternoon. Austin Barnes will start behind the plate in the Dodgers' regularly-scheduled tilt versus the Guardians.

Ruiz is out of the lineup Thursday versus the Yankees due to lightheadedness, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Ruiz took a foul tip off his catcher's mask in the Nationals' blowout loss to New York on Wednesday and was feeling the effects of it Thursday morning. There's no word yet as to whether he'll have to be placed in concussion protocol. Riley Adams is starting behind the dish and batting seventh in Thursday's matinee game at Yankee Stadium.

Ruiz is not in the lineup Thursday against the Yankees.

Riley Adams will start at catcher and bat seventh for the Nationals as they wrap up this three-game set with a matinee tilt in New York. Ruiz went 2-for-7 with two singles in the first two games of the series.

Diaz is not in the lineup for Thursday's tilt against the Rays, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

The Rockies have a day game after playing a night game Wednesday, so Diaz will receive a well-earned breather. Austin Wynns will do the catching for Peter Lambert.

Diaz went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Wednesday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Rays.

The veteran backstop got the Rockies on the board in the fifth inning with a solo shot off Aaron Civale before adding a two-run single in the sixth that put his team ahead, only for closer Justin Lawrence to melt down again in the ninth. The streaky Diaz seems to be heating up again -- after going 4-for-38 (.105) with only a solo homer over his prior 12 games, he's erupted for nine hits and eight RBI in his last four. On the season, Diaz is slashing .271/.322/.425 with 13 home runs, 37 runs and 59 RBI in a career-high 111 contests.

Stephenson went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in a 7-3 win over the Angels in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader.

Stephenson went deep in the fourth inning to put the Reds ahead 3-1. The catcher has homered twice over his last three games to get to 10 long balls on the year. He's slashing .241/.324/.362 with 42 RBI, 50 runs scored, 13 doubles, one triple and no stolen bases over 113 contests as the Reds' primary backstop.