MLB Player News
-
Willson Contreras 1B | BOS
Cubs' Willson Contreras: Remains out of lineup
Contreras (hamstring) isn't starting Monday's game against the Reds.
Contreras suffered a right hamstring strain during Saturday's loss to the Diamondbacks, and he's considered day-to-day. He isn't expected to require a trip to the injured list, per Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago. With Contreras out of the lineup for a second straight game, Yan Gomes will start behind the dish and bat fifth.
-
William Contreras C | MIL
Braves' William Contreras: Starting in left field
Contreras will bat second and play left field Monday against the Phillies.
Contreras has homered six times in 10 games this season, but he doesn't have a path to a major role behind the plate with Travis d'Arnaud hitting well and under contract through at least the end of next season. Contreras' inclusion in the lineup as an outfielder Monday is a clear sign that Atlanta wants to create as many opportunities for him as possible. He's only appeared in two games in the outfield as a professional, but he's a strong athlete for a catcher and should be able to hold his own.
-
Jacob Stallings C | BAL
Marlins' Jacob Stallings: On base three times Sunday
Stallings went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and an RBI in Sunday's win over Atlanta.
The backstop continued a productive stretch that has seen him hit .333 (11-for-33) over his last 11 games (nine starts) with five runs scored and seven RBI. Stallings is having a disappointing season overall, with his .568 OPS being a significant decline from the .705 mark he posted over his final three seasons in Pittsburgh, but the 32-year-old remains Miami's starter behind the plate and still has time to bring his numbers up to their usual level.
-
Joey Bart C | ATL
Giants' Joey Bart: No. 1 catching job reopens
Bart will start at catcher and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Padres.
Bart was on the bench for four of the Giants' last five games and appeared to be moving into the No. 2 role behind the plate, but he should now have some temporary security atop the depth chart after Curt Casali (concussion) was placed on the 7-day injured list Saturday. For the season, Bart is batting a disappointing .169 with four home runs in 86 plate appearances.
-
Elias Diaz C | TEX
Rockies' Elias Diaz: Rests for series finale
Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.
Though he rested for the second half of Saturday's doubleheader, Diaz will remain on the bench for the series finale. Rockies manager Bud Black is likely rewarding No. 2 backstop Brian Serven will a second consecutive start after the rookie went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Saturday's 11-3 win in Game 2.
-
Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Receives off day
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
Smith will get some maintenance after he caught each of the Dodgers' last three games while going 3-for-11 with a home run, a double, three walks and two runs during that stretch. Austin Barnes replaces Smith behind the dish in the series finale in Philadelphia.
-
Willson Contreras 1B | BOS
Cubs' Willson Contreras: Day-to-day, sitting out Sunday
Contreras (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Per Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com, Contreras is considered day-to-day after straining his right hamstring in Saturday's 7-6 loss, but the Cubs had enough concern about the backstop's health to call up another catcher (P.J. Higgins) from Triple-A Iowa ahead of Sunday's series finale. Higgins will draw the start behind the plate in place of Contreras, who will hope to return at some point during the Cubs' upcoming four-game series in Cincinnati that begins Monday.
-
J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: Gets breather Sunday
Realmuto is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Realmuto will take a seat for the second Sunday in a row, ending a stretch of five consecutive starts for the 31-year-old. Garrett Stubbs will check in behind the plate in place of Realmuto.
-
Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Goes deep in win
Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Phillies.
The Dodgers trailed by one run entering the sixth inning before Smith cranked a solo shot to right field to tie the score. The long ball was his second during his modest four-game hitting streak. Smith has gone 4-for-15 during the stretch with three walks and three runs in addition to the pair of solo homers.