MLB Player News

Hedges is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rockies.

Hedges has only started once in the last four games. Francisco Mejia will start behind the dish and hit sixth.

Caratini is starting at catcher and batting eighth in Sunday's game against the Reds.

Caratini will end up starting the bookend games of the series, with Jonathan Lucroy picking up a start in between on Saturday. The two figure to continue splitting playing time while Willson Contreras (hamstring) is on the injured list.

Smith isn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Arizona.

Smith is headed for the bench after going 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Friday night's series opener. Russell Martin will handle the catching duties and hit eighth with Smith out of the mix.

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

Caratini failed to register a hit in Friday's matchup, so the Cubs will turn to Jonathan Lucroy behind the dish for the third matchup of the series.

Hedges isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies.

Hedges will head to the bench for the second straight contest, as he also took a seat for Thursday's series opener. Francisco Mejia gets the nod behind the dish and is set to hit sixth in Hedges' place.

Stallings will start at catcher and bat eighth against the Cardinals on Friday.

He snapped an 0-for-13 skid with his third homer in Wednesday's loss to Milwaukee. Stallings is slashing .272/.337/.391 with three homers and six RBI in 101 plate appearances. The 29-year-old has become the regular catcher for both Joe Musgrove and Chris Archer, who starts Friday.

Diaz is not in Friday's lineup against the Cardinals.

He is hitting .182 with zero home runs in 55 at-bats since the All-Star break. Jacob Stallings is starting at catcher and hitting eighth.

Hedges is not starting Thursday against the Rockies.

Hedges will give way to Francisco Mejia behind the dish for Thursday's series opener following back-to-back starts. The soon-to-be 27-year-old is off to a slow start to August, going 0-for-10 with a walk and five strikeouts through four games this month.

Realmuto is not in Thursday's lineup against the Giants.

He had started the last four games and 13 of the last 14, hitting .276 with four home runs and one steal in 58 at-bats over that stretch. Andrew Knapp will start behind the dish and hit eighth.

Casali (knee) is expected to begin a rehab assignment for Triple-A Louisville on Friday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Casali has been inactive since July 18 due to right knee soreness. A mid-August return is becoming more likely for the veteran backstop who is slashing .253/.337/.420 in 172 plate appearances. Tucker Barnhart will likely split playing time with Casali once the latter is activated.