MLB Player News

Casali isn't starting Friday's game against the Pirates, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Casali returned from a three-game absence Wednesday against the Royals and went 1-for-2 with an RBI. He'll get a breather in Friday's series opener against Pittsburgh while Austin Wynns starts at catcher and bats ninth.

Gomes is starting at catcher and batting seventh in Friday's game against Atlanta.

Gomes got Thursday off but will return Friday, marking his fifth start in the last eight games. In his last four starts, the veteran has batted .294 with a solo home run and two runs scored. With Gomes catching, Willson Contreras will serve as the DH.

Serven went 4-for-4 with two runs scored in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Guardians.

Entering Thursday, Serven had already started behind the dish in four of the Rockies' previous seven games, and his perfect showing at the plate in the series finale with Cleveland likely further solidified him ahead of Elias Diaz on the depth chart at catcher. Serven batted out of the No. 9 spot Thursday, but with the rookie's slash line now sitting at an excellent .333/.382/.549 through his first 55 big-league plate appearances, manager Bud Black could consider moving him up in the order.

Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

The 22-year-old will join the Cardinals as additional depth behind the dish after Yadier Molina (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday. Herrera hasn't yet made any plate appearances in the majors and should serve as the backup to Andrew Knizner. However, Herrera could have a chance to carve out playing time as Knizner has gone just 1-for-22 with a walk and seven strikeouts over his last seven games.

Ruiz isn't starting the first game of Friday's doubleheader against Philadelphia, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Ruiz has gone 1-for-8 with an RBI and three strikeouts over the last two games and will get a breather in Friday's matinee. Riley Adams is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.

Realmuto isn't starting the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Nationals, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Realmuto hit .250 with a double, four runs, two RBI and two stolen bases over the last six matchups and will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Garrett Stubbs will start behind the dish and bat ninth during Friday's matinee.

Knizner is in line to serve as the Cardinals' primary catcher for the near future since Yadier Molina (knee) will be placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old started in six of the last nine games since Molina was dealing with persistent knee soreness, and Knizner went 1-for-18 with a walk and four strikeouts during that time. Molina doesn't yet have a timetable to return, and Knizner will likely see most of the at-bats during the veteran's IL stint. However, the Cardinals will call up prospect Ivan Herrera on Friday, and he'll likely compete for playing time in the big leagues if Knizner continues to struggle at the plate.

Herrera will be recalled by the Cardinals on Friday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Herrera spent a few days with the Cardinals in late May, and he'll rejoin the big-league club as a backup to Andrew Knizner since the team will place Yadier Molina (knee) on the 10-day injured list Friday. After failing to make any plate appearances during his first stint with the major-league club, Herrera should have more chances to prove himself at the top level while Molina is sidelined.

Smith went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Wednesday in a 4-1 victory against the Angels.

Smith provided all the runs that the Dodgers would need with his first-inning, three-run shot off Reid Detmers. The long ball was the backstop's eighth of the season and third over his past nine games. Smith is slashing .306/.359/.611 and has added two doubles, six RBI and five runs over the nine-game stretch.

Serven will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Guardians.

Now in the lineup for the fifth time in eight games, Serven appears to have overtaken Elias Diaz as the Rockies' preferred catcher for the time being. Since being called up to the big leagues May 17, Serven has hit .277 with three home runs, nine RBI and five runs in 51 plate appearances. If his playing time continues to trend upward from here, Serven could prove to be a viable fantasy option even in leagues that start one catcher, particularly in weeks in which the Rockies have a homestand.