MLB Player News

Barnhart is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Brewers, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

With Barnhart getting a breather for the front end of the twin bill, Curt Casali will step in behind the dish to catch for starting pitcher Sonny Gray. Look for Barnhart to return to the lineup for Game 2 to catch lefty Wade Miley.

Jackson was optioned to the alternate training site after Wednesday's doubleheader against the Yankees.

Jackson joined the club as the 29th man for Wednesday's twin bill, but he didn't appear in either game. The 24-year-old is unlikely to see worthwhile opportunities with the Braves while Travis d'Arnaud and Tyler Flowers remain healthy.

Smith is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Smith was activated off the injured list Sunday and started the past two games, going 1-for-6 with a home run, three runs and three walks. Austin Barnes will take over behind the plate Wednesday for the Dodgers.

Caratini is not starting Wednesday against the Tigers.

Caratini will head to the bench following a string of four consecutive starts. He's hitting .270 with nine RBI through 23 games this season. In his absence, Kyle Schwarber is starting at DH while Albert Almora gets the nod in center field.

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Yankees.

He is hitting .300 with three home runs, six runs and nine RBI in 40 at-bats over his last 10 games. Tyler Flowers will start behind the dish and bat eighth. Look for d'Arnaud to get back in there for the nightcap.

The Braves recalled Jackson from their alternate training site Wednesday.

Atlanta optioned Jackson to its alternate training site Tuesday to clear a spot on the active roster for outfielder Ronald Acuna, but the backstop will be able to rejoin the Braves for the day as the team's 29th man for Wednesday's doubleheader with the Yankees. Tyler Flowers and Travis d'Arnaud are both expected to make one start at catcher apiece during the twin bill, so Jackson will likely just be serving as a pinch-hitting option off the bench.

Realmuto went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer during Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Nationals.

The 29-year-old's ninth home run didn't make it out by much, as it caromed off the top of the wall and landed just beyond the fence for the three-run shot. Realmuto is producing some of the best numbers of his career with a .289/.340/.622 slash line, nine homers, 25 RBI and one stolen base through 24 games.

Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to Detroit on Tuesday.

Though Contreras' long ball was an afterthought on the scoreboard -- it came with Chicago down by seven runs in the ninth inning -- it could help the backstop get back on the right track as he had last gone deep Aug. 4. Since that date, Contreras went 7-for-52 (.135) with only one extra-base hit and 19 strikeouts before his 418-foot blast Tuesday. His season slash line of .216/.333/.386 is well below his career norm.

Gomes is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Phillies.

He is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak, batting .364 with two home runs and just two strikeouts in 33 at-bats over that span. Kurt Suzuki will start behind the dish and hit fifth.

Nido was placed on the injured list Tuesday for an undisclosed reason, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The team is not specifying which IL Nido is being placed on; reading between the lines, it seems his absence could be COVID-19 related. Pat Mazeika was recalled to take his spot on the active roster.