MLB Player News

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Ruiz will get a breather for the season finale after he caught the first two games of the series with Boston, going 2-for-7 with two walks and a run. With Ruiz sitting out Sunday, Alex Avila will get a turn behind the plate in what's expected to be the final game of his MLB career.

Stalling is out of the lineup Sunday against the Reds, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Stallings will head to the bench for the season finale after going 2-for-3 with a pair of walks Saturday. The 31-year-old has a .246/.335/.369 slash line with eight homers, 53 RBI and 38 runs in 112 games this season. Michael Perez will start behind the plate in the season finale.

Realmuto is not in the lineup Sunday at Miami.

Realmuto will be on the bench Sunday as the Phillies close out 2021 against the Marlins. Unless he makes an appearances off the bench, the 30-year-old will finish the season with a .783 OPS, 17 homers, 73 RBI, 64 runs and 13 stolen bases in 133 games. Andrew Knapp will work behind the plate in Game 162.

Stallings went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks in Saturday's 8-6 win over Cincinnati.

It's encouraging that the catcher's late-season concussion kept him sidelined for just nine days, and it appears that he'll head into the offseason healthy. Stallings has five hits in his last 11 at-bats, lifting his batting average to .246 -- his highest mark since May 25. The 31-year-old figures to serve as the team's primary catcher again in 2022.

Barnhart is out of the lineup Sunday against the Pirates, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The 30-year-old will finish the season on the bench for the third time in the final four games with Tyler Stephenson receiving another start. If he doesn't make an appearance off the bench, Barnhart will finish 2021 with a .247/.317/.368 slash line, seven homers, 21 doubles, 48 RBI and 41 runs in 388 plate appearances.

Contreras exited Saturday's game against the Cardinals with right hip tightness, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Contreras left in the third inning with the injury, though he walked and struck out in two plate appearances prior to his exit. While there has been no official word, there is a strong possibility that Contreras will be forced to miss Sunday's season finale and that his 2021 campaign is complete. Erick Castillo took over behind the plate to replace Contreras.

Diaz isn't starting Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Diaz went 1-for-3 with a run, an RBI and a strikeout Friday, but he'll retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Dom Nunez will start at catcher and bat eighth.

Barnhart isn't starting Saturday's game against the Pirates.

Barnhart went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Friday, and he'll be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Tyler Stephenson will start at catcher and bat second.

D'Arnaud remains on the bench Saturday against the Mets.

With Atlanta's division crown secure, d'Arnaud will rest for the second straight game. William Contreras will again start behind the plate.

Fortes isn't starting Saturday's game against Philadelphia, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Fortes has gone 0-for-13 with five strikeouts across his last five appearances, and he'll be out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last five games. Alex Jackson will start behind the plate and bat seventh.