MLB Player News

Ruiz went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's victory over the Mets.

Ruiz's entered the game mired in a 10-game stretch where he hit .235 with two runs and one RBI. The young catcher broke out of that slump in a big way, accounting for four of the Nationals' seven runs on the day. Sunday's effort is also his first multi-hit game since Aug. 19, and he is now slashing .250/.310/.354 in 421 plate appearances this season.

Gomes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Though Willson Contreras (ankle) isn't yet ready to rejoin the lineup, Gomes will take a seat for the day game after a night game after he was behind the plate for each of the previous three contests. No. 3 backstop P.J. Higgins will step in at catcher for the series finale.

Contreras (ankle) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Contreras will be on the bench for a fourth consecutive game while he nurses a a sore left ankle. No. 3 backstop P.J. Higgins will get a turn behind the plate Sunday after Yan Gomes caught the Cubs' previous three contests.

McCann is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

After going 0-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base while catching eight innings in Saturday's 7-1 loss, McCann will get a breather for Sunday's series finale. Tomas Nido replaces McCann behind the dish.

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

With Ronald Acuna having yet to resume duties in the outfield since making his return to the lineup Wednesday following a three-game absence due to a sore knee, Contreras has lost out on opportunities at designated hitter. Contreras will be on the bench for the third time in four games, with Travis d'Arnaud continuing to serve as Atlanta's preferred option at catcher.

Delay is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Delay will receive a breather for the matinee game after he started in five of the past six games, including Saturday night's 4-1 loss. Tyler Heineman will serve as Pittsburgh's catcher Sunday in place of Delay.

Diaz is out of the lineup for the first game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Reds.

Brian Serven will step in behind the dish while Diaz rests for the early game of the twin bill. Expect Diaz to re-enter the lineup for the nightcap, when he'll likely be catching for starting pitcher Jose Urena.

Smith went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run, a double and four total RBI in a 12-1 win against the Padres on Saturday.

Smith gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead with his run-scoring double in the third inning, and he landed the finishing blow with his three-run shot to center field in the sixth. The big performance snapped a four-game mini-slump during which the backstop went 0-for-11. Smith leads MLB catchers with 79 RBI on the campaign, and his 20 homers are third at the position behind Willson Contreras and Cal Raleigh.

McCann went 0-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's 7-1 loss to the Nationals.

McCann tried to spark the Mets' offense in the fifth inning, but Brandon Nimmo couldn't bring him home after the catcher's two-out steal. This was McCann's third steal of the season, putting him one back of his career high from 2019. He's added a paltry .188/.243/.273 slash line, two home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored and five doubles in 46 contests this season. The 32-year-old has just one multi-hit effort in 16 games since returning from an oblique injury Aug. 4.

Nola will sit Saturday against the Dodgers, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Nola hits the bench for the second time in three games. Luis Campusano will start behind the plate.