MLB Player News

Barnes is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres.

Barnes went 2-for-7 with a double in the last two games but will head to the bench for the series opener. Russell Martin will start behind the plate and bat eighth Thursday.

Contreras went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Pirates.

Contreras finished June in an 0-for-12 slump, but after getting a day off Monday, he's responded with a 3-for-8 start to July. The All-Star catcher is having a strong season with a .287/.382/.555 slash line.

Gomes is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins.

Gomes will be getting a routine breather with the Marlins and Nationals beginning their Fourth of July game bright and early at 11:05 a.m. EDT. No. 2 backstop Kurt Suzuki will check in behind the plate after Gomes started the previous two days.

Caratini went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in a 6-5 loss against the Pirates on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old doubled his home-run total with this performance, as he came into the night with two round trippers this year. His four homers this season represent a career high. The backup catcher is batting .298 with 11 extra-base hits overall, 16 RBI and 14 runs in 84 at-bats this season.

Mejia is not starting Wednesday against the Giants.

Mejia has hit .290/.371/.516 in 10 games since returning to the big leagues. Austin Hedges will start behind the plate in his absence.

Grandal is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Reds.

Grandal has just two hits in his last seven games. Manny Pina gets the nod behind the plate in his absence.

Diaz remains on the bench Wednesday against the Cubs.

Diaz sits for the second straight game. Jacob Stallings remains in the lineup behind the plate.

Realmuto (hamstring) is catching and batting fifth Tuesday against the Braves.

Realmuto exited Sunday's matchup against the Marlins with a left hamstring issue, but he's returned to the starting nine following a day off Monday. He's pieced together back-to-back multi-hit performances and will look to keep it rolling at the dish in Tuesday's series opener.

Diaz isn't in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.

Diaz collected a base knock and a walk in Monday's series opener, but he'll ride the bench Tuesday. Jacob Stallings will handle the catching duties and bat eighth in Diaz's absence.

Grandal failed to record a hit but walked three times and collected an RBI and a run Monday in the Brewers' 8-6 win.

Aside from smacking a ball foul in the sixth inning, Grandal didn't even make contact in any of his five plate appearances on the night but still managed to fill the leadoff role admirably. He took 26 pitches on the night and gave the Brewers the lead for good in the top of the seventh, when he walked with the bases loaded. Grandal is now slashing .222/.400/.519 out of the table-setting role and should stick atop the lineup regularly with Lorenzo Cain displaying few signs of breaking out of his season-long funk.