MLB Player News

Contreras (thigh) will return to the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers, catching and batting fifth.

Contreras sat for two straight games with a minor thigh issue, though he did appear off the bench Sunday. He'll be involved from the start this time around and will look to build on his .238/.333/.512 slash line.

Barnhart went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs Sunday in the Reds' 13-12 win over the Cubs in 10 innings.

Barnhart's long ball was his third of the season and one of five on the day for the Reds. Cincinnati values Barnhart mainly for his skills as a game caller, but he's been a surprising contributor to what has been one of the majors' most potent lineups through the first month of the season. The 31-year-old is holding down a .918 OPS, 168 points better than his next-best mark (in 2017) for any season of his career.

Bethancourt signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Monday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The 29-year-old catcher is expected to report to the Pirates' affiliate in Indianapolis ahead of the start of the Triple-A season this week. Once a highly-touted prospect while coming up in the Atlanta organization, Bethancourt owns a meager .222/.252/.316 slash line over 489 career plate appearances in the majors. He last appeared in the big leagues in 2017 with the Padres.

Realmuto (hand) is starting Sunday's game against the Mets.

Realmuto had been out of the lineup for the last two games due to left hand soreness, but he'll start behind the plate and bat fourth Sunday. He's gone 5-for-11 with a double, two RBI and a run across his last four games.

D'Arnaud will require surgery to address the torn ligament in his left thumb he sustained in Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

An extended absence was already expected for d'Arnaud after he was placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday, but the fact that he'll need surgery to address the injury means he won't be ready to go when first eligible for reinstatement in early July. Instead, Atlanta is targeting a late-season return for d'Arnaud, but even his availability for September would seem to be up in the air at this stage. William Contreras was recalled from the alternate site to replace d'Arnaud on the active roster, and the rookie is likely to serve as Atlanta's primary backstop for the balance of the season unless the team elects to address the catcher position through the trade market.

Nola is not in the lineup Sunday against the Giants, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The 31-year-old went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in his first start of the season Saturday, and he'll shift back to the bench for Sunday's series finale. Nola is expected to split time behind the plate with Victor Caratini for the near future.

Smith went 1-for-2 with a triple, a run and two RBI in a loss to Milwaukee on Saturday.

The backstop appeared to be getting the day off with Austin Barnes starting the game behind the plate, but the team called on him to pinch hit in the ninth inning with a runner on second and the score tied 2-2. Smith wasn't able to come up with a clutch hit in that situation, but he remained in the game and got another chance to play hero with two runners aboard in the 11th. This time the catcher came through, working a full count before lining a two-run triple to right field. While he is hitting just .234 so far this season, Smith has posted a 12:13 BB:K and a .383 OBP. His .411 xwOBA ranks in the 92nd percentile leaguewide.

Contreras will start at catcher and bat eighth Sunday against the Blue Jays.

The 23-year-old will make his first start of 2021 in the series finale with Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) landing on the 60-day injured list and Alex Jackson (hamstring) being placed on the 10-day injured list. Contreras enters Sunday with only four big-league appearances under his belt, but he's now poised to split time behind the plate with Jeff Mathis, who had his contract selected from the alternate site.

Jackson was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a strained left hamstring.

It's a tough break for Jackson since he was poised for increased playing time with Travis d'Arnaud landing on the 60-day IL with a thumb sprain. William Contreras was recalled from the alternate training site and is starting behind the plate Sunday, while the team also selected the contract of Jeff Mathis.

D'Arnaud was placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday with a sprained left thumb.

It was already known the 32-year-old was heading to the shelf after suffering the thumb injury Saturday, but the sprain is apparently severe enough to sideline him for at least the next two months. Alex Jackson (hamstring) was also placed on the injured list, severely testing the organization's depth at catcher. William Contreras was recalled from the alternate training site and is starting Sunday, while Atlanta also selected the contract of veteran Jeff Mathis.