MLB Player News

Caratini isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.

Caratini had a spot in the starting lineup over each of the first three games with the addition of the designated hitter in the National League, but he'll play a bench role in the team's first road contest Monday. Kyle Schwarber will serve as the designated hitter with David Bote entering the starting nine at third base, batting seventh.

Gomes isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.

Gomes made his season debut Sunday and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout, but he'll sit once again in Monday's contest. Kurt Suzuki is starting at catcher, batting seventh.

Casali will start at catcher and bat ninth Monday against the Cubs.

Casali is picking up his fourth start behind the dish in as many days while top backstop Tucker Barnhart (personal) remains on the paternity list. He's slugged a home run and reached base at a .417 clip through the Reds' first three games, but Casali will lose nearly all of his fantasy value once Barnhart is back in the fold.

Hedges is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Hedges had started both of the previous two days, so he'll just be getting a breather in the series finale while Francisco Mejia gets a turn behind the dish. The 27-year-old is still looking for his first hit of the season after going 0-for-8 with four strikeouts in the Padres' three games to date.

Contreras went 3-for-5 in Sunday's 14-1 win over the Mets.

All three of Contreras' hits were singles. The 22-year-old catcher continues to serve as an insurance option while Tyler Flowers and Travis d'Arnaud remain on the COVID-19 list.

Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Brewers.

Contreras was scorching hot in summer camp with six home runs, and now he has his first long ball that counts in 2020. The 28-year-old caught two of the Cubs' first three games, with an appearance at DH in between. That formula could be used the rest of the way to limit the wear and tear on Contreras behind the plate.

Stephenson was added to the 30-man roster Sunday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old will take the roster spot of Mike Moustakas (illness), who was placed on the injured list Sunday. Tucker Barnhart (paternity) is away from the team, but Stephenson is still unlikely to see significant opportunities with Curt Casali and Kyle Farmer still on the roster.

Caratini is the designated hitter and batting eighth in Sunday's game against the Brewers.

That makes two starts at DH for Caratini during the weekend series, with an appearance behind the plate as Yu Darvish's personal catcher in between. It looks like rookie manager David Ross is going to try to get both Caratini and Willson Contreras into the lineup most days, with one catching and the other serving as DH. The Cubs elected to keep Josh Phegley on the 30-man roster as a third catcher, so they can afford to deploy Contreras and Caratini at DH and still be covered behind the plate.

Contreras laced an RBI double off Hunter Strickland in the 10th inning of Saturday's win over the Mets.

After Matt Adams pinch hit for Alex Jackson in the eighth inning, the 22-year-old Contreras made his big-league debut behind the plate, and when he made his first trip to the plate two innings later, he made it count. Contreras remains Atlanta's catcher of the future, but his time in the majors this season will likely come to an end once Tyler Flowers and Travis d'Arnaud come off the COVID-19 list.

Realmuto went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Saturday's win over Miami.

With the Phillies sitting on a two-run lead in the seventh inning, Realmuto crushed a splitter to center field to break the game open. The 29-year-old should rank among the best offensive catchers in the game again this season after compiling a combined 46 home runs and 157 RBI over his previous two campaigns.