MLB Player News

Gomes is in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Thursday.

After sitting in favor of Kurt Suzuki during the wild-card matchup, Gomes will receive the start for the first game of the NLDS against right-hander Walker Buehler. Suzuki will retreat to the bench for Game 1.

Gomes will be on the bench for Tuesday's wild-card matchup with the Brewers, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The Nationals rode Gomes heavily down the stretch while Kurt Suzuki contended with elbow inflammation for much of September, but the latter will get the nod for the win-or-go-home game now that he's healthy again. Gomes could be in store for a limited role for the duration of the postseason before likely parting ways with the Nationals over the winter. Washington is expected to decline his $9 million club option for 2020.

Grandal went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run Sunday in the Brewers' 4-3 loss to the Rockies in 13 innings.

The home run was Grandal's 28th of the season, establishing a new career high in the category. Grandal was pulled from the contest after four innings, but that was presumably only for rest purposes since the Cardinals were well on their way to securing a win over the Cubs, locking up the National League Central crown in the process. The Brewers were still able to clinch a wild-card spot last week, so expect Grandal to check in back behind the plate for Tuesday's win-or-go-home matchup with the Nationals. Grandal shouldered one of the heavier workloads among all catchers down the stretch, starting in each of the Brewers' final nine games.

Campusano has been removed from Peoria's roster in the Arizona Fall League.

Campusano struggled in four games with Peoria, going 1-for-13 with six strikeouts. No reason has been given for the 21-year-old's removal from the roster. Campusano was the co-MVP of the California League this season, hitting .325 with 15 home runs in 109 games with Lake Elsinore.

Smith went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored in the Dodgers' 9-0 win over the Giants on Sunday.

Smith went on a 12-game homerless streak in the month of September before finally hitting one out last Sunday. One week later and he has his second home run of the month and his 15th of his bright rookie season. The 24-year-old catcher struggled a bit with consistency at the plate for certain stretches of the season but possesses immense power and should play a key role as he gets set for his first-ever appearance in the postseason.

Gomes is not in Sunday's lineup against the Indians.

The Nationals just got Kurt Suzuki back from an elbow injury this weekend, so they are trying to get him up to speed before the postseason. Suzuki is hitting third in the season finale, and the two backstops should split time fairly evenly if they make it past the Wild Card Game.

Campusano is hitting .077 (1-for-13) in four games for Peoria of the Arizona Fall League.

Campusano batted .325 with 15 homers for High-A Lake Elsinore this season but has struggled to find his groove in the more competitive AFL, striking out six times in 15 plate appearances. He is one of three top Padres prospects competing in Arizona this fall.

Caratini went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 8-6 win over the Cardinals.

Caratini launched a moonshot off of St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright in the fifth inning, giving him a career-high 11 home runs this season. In fact, the 26-year-old came into 2019 with only three career MLB home runs in 107 games. Caratini has some definite talent, though the likes of Willson Contreras and Anthony Rizzo are keeping him from receiving everyday playing time in Chicago.

Mejia is not starting Saturday against Arizona.

The Padres don't appear to have a true starting catcher at the moment. Mejia and Luis Torrens have each started three of the last 10 games behind the plate, while Saturday's starter Austin Hedges had started four times in that stretch.

Contreras is not in the lineup Saturday against the Cardinals.

Contreras hasn't had his typical heavy workload since the Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention. Jonathan Lucroy starts behind the plate on this occasion.