MLB Player News

Smith went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Padres.

Six of Smith's 13 homers this year have come in his last 15 games. During that span, he's hitting .302 (19-for-63) while adding 12 RBI and seven runs. The catcher has maintained a large share of playing time by regularly serving as the designated hitter when he isn't behind the dish. He's up to a .260/.345/.472 slash line with 38 RBI, 31 runs scored and 10 doubles through 264 plate appearances this year.

Alvarez was informed Saturday that he is being promoted to Triple-A Syracuse, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

The 20-year-old is expected to join the Mets' top minor-league affiliate Monday. Alvarez finishes his time with Double-A Binghamton with a .277/.368/.553 line, 18 homers and 47 RBI in 67 games -- beyond impressive for his age at that level. Alvarez is widely considered the Mets' top prospect and one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball. If he picks up where he left off, Alvarez could get a look in Queens before the end of the 2022 season.

Diaz isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Diamondbacks, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

Diaz will get a breather after he went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts over the last two games. Brian Serven is starting behind the plate and batting ninth.

D'Arnaud isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Reds.

D'Arnaud is getting a day off after he slashed .292/.346/.500 with a homer, two doubles, five runs, and two RBI over the last six games. William Contreras will start behind the plate and bat sixth.

Ruiz isn't starting Saturday against the Marlins.

Ruiz started in the last two games and went 3-for-8 with a homer, four RBI, two runs and a stolen base. He'll get a breather while Tres Barrera starts behind the dish and bats eighth.

McCann isn't starting Saturday against Texas.

McCann is out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games after he went 0-for-2 with a walk Friday. Tomas Nido will take over behind the dish and bat ninth.

Ruiz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Marlins.

The backstop took Dylan Floro deep in the sixth inning, but the Nationals were already in a 6-1 hole at that point. All three of Ruiz's homers this season have come from the left side of the plate, but the switch hitter's splits remain fairly balanced (.654 OPS vs. LHP, .681 vs. RHP).

Barnes went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 5-1 win over the Padres.

Barnes has logged a stolen base in each of his last two games after not swiping a bag all year. The catcher also supplied an RBI on a groundout in Friday's win. He appeared in just eight games in June, going 2-for-22 (.091) with nine walks. Barnes is slashing .190/.323/.380 with four home runs, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored in 96 plate appearances. Will Smith is likely to start most games behind the dish, but when he moves to designated hitter as he did Friday, Barnes can fill in.

Casali will be on the bench for Friday's game against the White Sox, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Casali has started back-to-back games just once in the Giants' last 17 contests. Austin Wynns starts behind the plate Friday.

Stephenson (thumb) is expected to start his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Monday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Stephenson is nearing a return from the broken thumb he suffered June 9, but he'll likely have to make several rehab appearances before rejoining the big league club. He's currently tracking to return just ahead of the All-Star break.