MLB Player News

Stallings is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

Stallings finds himself on the bench for the second time in three days. Michael Perez will start behind the plate in his absence.

Realmuto (knee) was cleared to return from the COVID-19 injured list Friday and will bat cleanup and serve as the designated hitter against the Blue Jays.

Realmuto hit the COVID-19 injured list Thursday due to a stomachache and fever, though he tested negative for the virus, so those symptoms evidently belonged to a different illness. He's ready to go just one day later, though the knee bruise he suffered earlier in the week after getting struck by a foul ball may still be affecting him, as he's not yet ready to start behind the plate.

Realmuto (knee) is with the Phillies in Dunedin and could be cleared to return from the COVID-19 injured list in time to start Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Realmuto was nursing a bruised knee when he developed a stomachache and fever Thursday and was added to the COVID-19 injured list. He never tested positive for coronavirus, so those symptoms were apparently due to another illness. Previous reports indicated that he wouldn't fly with the team for the weekend series, but he's evidently arrived in Florida separately and may not wind up missing the series after all. He's expected to start Friday's game if he's cleared to return, so the knee issue is evidently no longer a problem, either.

Narvaez is not in the lineup Friday against Atlanta.

Narvaez returned from a left hamstring strain Thursday, and it's no surprise to see that he won't be asked to start two games in a row right away. Manny Pina will take over behind the plate in his absence.

Alvarez was removed from Thursday's game in the first inning for Low-A St. Lucie after a collision at home plate, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The catcher limped off the field, but initial reports suggest the injury isn't serious. Alvarez was off to a fantastic start to the season, slashing .545/.656/.818 through 11 at-bats with a homer, three doubles and a 9:3 BB:K, and a promotion to High-A this summer seems almost inevitable if the injury doesn't derail his momentum.

Stephenson went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run during Thursday's loss to the Rockies.

Stephenson finally got the Reds on the board with an eighth-inning long ball while pinch hitting against Lucas Gilbreath. Unfortunately, the deficit was still too much for Cincinnati to overcome. Stephenson now has two homers this season while batting .305/.349/.441.

Maile was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Maile will head back to the minors after Omar Narvaez (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list as part of a corresponding move. Maile appeared in eight games during his time in the majors and hit .211 with a run and an RBI.

Realmuto's (knee) placement on the COVID-19 injured list Thursday was not due to a positive test for the virus but instead due to an abundance of caution regarding what appears to be a non-COVID illness, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Realmuto is reportedly dealing with a stomach ache and fever, something which manager Joe Girardi noted wouldn't be much cause for concern during a normal season but which necessitates a trip to the COVID-19 injured list this year even without a positive test. Assuming Realmuto continues to test negative, he shouldn't miss much time, though he's not flying with the team for the weekend series in Toronto. That suggests it's likely he won't play again until Tuesday against the Marlins. The timing of the illness could certainly be worse for the Phillies, as Realmuto was already banged up after taking a foul ball off his knee Tuesday and may have been set to miss a couple more games even without the illness.

Narvaez (hamstring) has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list and is starting Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Narvaez suffered a left hamstring strain April 30 and spent just under two weeks on the injured list. He'll start behind the dish and bat sixth against the Cardinals on Thursday and should reclaim his role as the primary catcher going forward.

The Phillies recalled Marchan from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

Marchan will join the Phillies to provide a No. 2 option at catcher behind Andrew Knapp after top backstop J.T. Realmuto (knee) was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list in a corresponding move. The Phillies have yet to release a timeline for when Realmuto might be ready to rejoin the active roster, but however long he's up with the big club, Marchan is unlikely to see much work.