MLB Player News

Contreras went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs Thursday against the Orioles.

Contreras accounted for the majority of Chicago's offense, going yard in the sixth and eighth innings. He now has 19 home runs for the season, five of which have come since Aug. 4. In that 12-game span, Contreras has also chipped in 10 RBI and nine runs scored. For the campaign, he has maintained a .249/.358/.472 line across 433 plate appearances.

The Mets hope Nido (illness) will be able to return from the COVID-19 injured list sometime this weekend in Philadelphia, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Nido has been on the COVID-19 IL since Monday, but it seems likely that he'll be back in action after missing less than a week. The team hasn't announced a date for the backstop's return, but he should be back in action in the coming days.

Manager Craig Counsell said Narvaez (quadriceps) is expected to return from the 10-day injured list Saturday against the Cubs, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Narvaez began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday and has gone 3-for-8 with a double, two RBI, a run and a strikeout over two games. He'll likely remain with the minor-league club for another day or two but should be back in the Brewers' lineup this weekend.

Diaz (wrist) took swings Thursday and has resumed playing catch pain-free, the Associated Press reports.

Diaz sounds like he could soon be ready to head out on what should be a brief minor-league rehab assignment. The Rockies' top catcher has been out since Aug. 12 with a left wrist sprain, which has allowed Brian Serven to temporarily take over as the team's No. 1 backstop.

Delay is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

Delay started behind the plate in four of the Pirates' last five games, but he could see his opportunities take a hit now that Tyler Heineman -- who will start at catcher Thursday -- is back from a brief stint on the injured list. Before missing time with a right groin strain, the switch-hitting Heineman had occupied the larger side of a platoon with the righty-hitting Delay, who has done his best work against southpaws (111 wRC+ in 42 plate appearances).

Contreras is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

Contreras extended his hitting streak to nine games in Atlanta's 9-7 loss Wednesday, when he singled three times and scored two runs. He's holding down a robust .808 OPS in August, but because he frequently catches in addition to logging starts at designated hitter, he'll still be subject to more days off than the rest of Atlanta's regulars. Travis d'Arnaud is behind the plate for the series finale, while Eddie Rosario gets a turn at DH.

Serven is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Serven has taken over as the Rockies' clear No. 1 catcher since Elias Diaz (wrist) landed on the injured list last Friday, but the 27-year-old will need a breather as the Rockies and Cardinals close their series with a day game after a night game. While starting in five of the past six games, Serven went 3-for-16 with a home run, a double, two walks, three RBI and an additional run.

Barnes went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in a 2-1 victory against the Brewers on Wednesday.

Barnes started in place of No. 1 catcher Will Smith, and he produced the first run of the contest with a solo shot to center field in the sixth inning. It was the first home run for the backstop since he went deep against Philadelphia on May 21. Barnes has had a rough season at the plate but has been better of late, slashing .280/.333/.440 over his past seven games.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Perez (hamstring) may receive full medical clearance for the start of winter ball, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

After undergoing surgery May 20 to repair a ruptured right hamstring, Perez won't be a candidate to return from the 60-day IL before the end of the season, but his projected 6-to-9-month recovery timeline gives him a chance at being ready to play in December. The native Puerto Rican could elect to play winter ball on his home island or perhaps elsewhere in Latin America this winter with the hope of proving his health and securing a contract with an MLB team ahead of spring training. The 33-year-old backstop posted a .700 OPS in 69 plate appearances for the Pirates before sustaining the season-ending injury.

Bart is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Bart is in the midst of an eight-game hit streak during which he's gone 15-for-31 with two home runs, five RBI and five runs, and he'll take a seat for Wednesday's contest. Austin Wynns will step in behind the plate and bat ninth.