MLB Player News

Casali went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run, two walks and a strikeout in a 3-1 win against the Nationals on Sunday.

Casali accounted for all three San Francisco runs with his second-inning shot to center off Nationals' starter Erick Fedde and later walked in both the third and sixth innings. The backstop has been performing admirably in the absence of Buster Posey and concludes the first half with a .220/.336/.404 slash line in 42 games. Moreover, his 11.6 BB% would be among the league leaders if Casali had enough at-bats to qualify.

Perez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Mets.

Making his third start in the last four games, Perez contributed a fifth-inning solo shot with his only hit. The 28-year-old is up to six homers, 13 RBI and 10 runs scored despite a .140/.216/.333 slash line through 125 plate appearances. He will likely continue to serve as Jacob Stallings' backup at catcher.

Nola (knee) played seven innings at first base in the second game of his rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego-Union Tribune reports.

Nola has taken the field at first base in each of his two rehab games thus far, going a combined 3-for-5 with a run, an RBI and a walk. The backstop has ample experience playing the infield throughout his career, but the decision to have him start at first base rather than at catcher during the beginning of his assignment with the Triple-A club is a clear indication that he's not quite ready to test his sprained left knee behind the plate. He'll almost certainly need to progress to getting in some games at catcher before he's deemed ready to return to the big-league club.

Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

The 29-year-old has gone 1-for-4 in four consecutive games en route to a .286 average with one RBI in 29 at-bats this month. Robinson Chirinos will catch and bat eighth in Sunday's series finale.

Stallings is not starting Sunday's series finale against the Mets, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

The 31-year-old has gone deep in consecutive games and is now hitting .261 in 23 at-bats this month. Michel Perez will catch and bat eighth Sunday.

Barnes went 0-for-4 with a walk and two runs Saturday in the Dodgers' 22-1 win over the Diamondbacks.

Barnes benefited from the rest of the Los Angeles lineup teeing off on the beleaguered Arizona pitching staff, as he came around to score on a pair of extra-base hits with the bases loaded. The veteran backstop's .208/.327/.328 is serviceable enough for a catcher, but he's unlikely to cut into Will Smith's playing time because of it.

Barnhart is on the bench for Sunday's series finale in Milwaukee.

The 30-year-old has started the last four games, collecting four hits and a pair of RBI in 16 at-bats. Barnhart is hitting .306 in his last 36 at-bats dating back to June 22. Tyler Stephenson will catch Luis Castillo and hit fifth Sunday afternoon.

Stallings went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Mets.

The backstop sat out the first game of the twin bill before starting behind the plate in Game 2. He accounted for half of Pittsburgh's runs with a solo shot to left field in the sixth inning. Stallings has now homered in each of his past two games and has launched a career-high seven long balls and 36 RBI so far this season.

Diaz will sit Saturday against the Padres, Daniel Guerrero of MLB.com reports.

Diaz is in the middle of a rare hot streak, slashing .400/.475/.886 over his last 11 games while homering five times. He'll rest Saturday, with Dom Nunez taking over behind the plate.

Smith will sit Saturday against the Diamondbacks, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Smith's bat has gone cold over his last 12 games, as he's hit just .171/.279/.257 over that stretch. He'll sit in favor of Austin Barnes on Saturday.