MLB Player News
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Austin Barnes C | NYM
Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Launches decisive homer
Barnes went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in a 1-0 triumph over Colorado on Saturday.
Barnes went deep off Colorado starter Kyle Freeland in the second for the game's single run and provided two of only seven hits in the contest. It was the backstop's first home run since June 22 and he's now 5-for-9 over his last three games.
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Willson Contreras 1B | BOS
Cubs' Willson Contreras: Smacks 15th homer
Contreras went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Saturday against the Diamondbacks.
Contreras delivered a leadoff home run in the fourth inning, his 15th long ball of the campaign. He was also ejected from the game arguing a call against Jason Heyward, though it was in the bottom of the ninth inning, so it did not cost him any plate appearances. Contreras has been on a modest power surge of late, delivering two home runs and two doubles across his last six starts. For the season, he is hitting.239/.350/.433 across 346 plate appearances.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Resting Saturday
Smith will sit Saturday against the Rockies.
Smith gets a rest after starting three straight games behind the plate. Austin Barnes takes over in his absence.
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Chad Wallach C | ATH
Marlins' Chad Wallach: DFA'd Saturday
The Marlins designated Wallach for assignment on Saturday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
The catcher was recalled before Friday's game and struck out in his only plate appearance. Wallach has appeared in 23 total games for the Marlins this season, hitting .200 with six RBI and 32 strikeouts. He was DFA'd to make room on the 40-man roster for Brian Anderson, whom the team activated from the 60-day injured list Saturday.
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Keibert Ruiz C | WAS
Dodgers' Keibert Ruiz: Slugs three homers in Triple-A game
Ruiz went 4-for-4 with three home runs, a double, a walk and five RBI for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday.
Ruiz has been on a tear at the plate of late, collecting at least one hit in seven straight games to push his season average up to .309. Overall, the backstop has crushed 16 homers across 48 contests while notching an equal number of walks and strikeouts (23). He may be the organization's top hitter currently playing in the minors, but his path to big-league playing time remains blocked by Will Smith and Austin Barnes.
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Jacob Stallings C | BAL
Pirates' Jacob Stallings: Retreats to bench
Stallings isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Giants, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Stallings will get a breather after he went 2-for-7 with two runs, a walk and two strikeouts across the last two games. Michael Perez will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
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Andrew Knizner C | SEA
Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Productive in spot start
Knizner went 2-for-4 with a two-run ground-rule double and a run in a loss to the Reds on Friday.
The reserve backstop made his first game appearance since July 7, and he came through with his first multi-hit effort since May 30. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Knizner will draw a second straight start behind the dish Saturday due to Yadier Molina's ongoing neck stiffness.
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Omar Narvaez C | HOU
Brewers' Omar Narvaez: Takes seat against lefty
Narvaez isn't starting Saturday's game against the White Sox.
Narvaez had gone 2-for-8 with two strikeouts across the last two games, and he'll get a breather with left-hander Carlos Rodon starting for the White Sox on Saturday. Manny Pina will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
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Elias Diaz C | KC
Rockies' Elias Diaz: Homers Friday
Diaz went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-6 win over the Dodgers.
Diaz got the scoring kicked off for the Rockies with a solo homer to left off David Price in the third. The 30-year-old sent one out for the first time since July 7 after he homered five times in a span of eight games a few weeks back. He hasn't swung a healthy bat overall; Diaz is slashing .210/.278/.381 with eight homers, 19 RBI, 20 runs scored and 17:33 BB:K over 194 plate appearances. His lack of production has landed him in a timeshare behind the plate with Dom Nunez.