MLB Player News

Haase isn't starting Friday against the Twins.

Haase has gone 2-for-8 with two runs, three walks and a strikeout over the last four matchups but will be on the bench for the third time in the last four games. Tucker Barnhart is starting behind the plate and batting ninth.

Contreras is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Reds.

Contreras will take a seat after he went 2-for-12 with a double and four strikeouts over a three-game series with the Phillies. Yan Gomes will take over behind the plate and bat seventh in the series opener.

Huff went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's 10-9 extra-innings loss to the Mariners.

Huff has homered twice in his last three games, and he's up to four long balls on the year. The 24-year-old has gone 8-for-35 (.229 average) since he rejoined the Rangers on Sept. 5. He's slashing .250/.311/.384 with 10 RBI, eight runs scored and a stolen base through 122 plate appearances this season.

Smith went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Padres.

Smith continues to see the ball well, as he's posted six multi-hit efforts in his last 11 games. The catcher supplied an insurance run with his solo shot in the eighth inning Thursday, which was his fifth homer in September. He's up to 24 on the year, one shy of his career high, while adding 86 RBI, 66 runs scored, a stolen base, 25 doubles, three triples and a .265/.349/.475 slash line through 133 contests.

Stassi went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Athletics.

After getting a couple of nights off, Stassi got the start Thursday and capitalized with a solo home run in the eighth inning to extend the Angels' lead to 4-0. The long ball was Stassi's ninth on the season and first in September. He is slashing .182/.268/.307 through 100 games this season and should continue to be part of the Angels' catching rotation to close the campaign.

Alvarez will join the Mets' big-league roster Friday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

The Mets are in the thick of a tight race for the NL East crown despite a major weakness at the catcher position. James McCann owns a .519 OPS on the season, while Tomas Nido's .598 OPS isn't much better. Exactly what kind of boost the 20-year-old Alvarez can provide right away is unclear, though he's one of the highest-rated catching prospects in the league and has hit .260/.374/.511 with 28 homers in 112 games across the two highest levels of the minors this season, so he certainly has the potential to make an impact.

O'Hoppe will be on the bench Thursday against Oakland.

O'Hoppe was called up for the first time Wednesday and went 1-for-3 in his MLB debut. He won't make back-to-back starts just yet, with Max Stassi taking over behind the plate.

Bart will not start Thursday's game against the Rockies, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Bart has been the Giants' clear primary catcher down the stretch, starting eight of the last 12 games prior to Thursday's contest. He hasn't had much success at the plate over that stretch, however, going 3-for-25 with 14 strikeouts. Austin Wynns will start behind the plate Thursday.

Diaz isn't in the lineup Thursday against San Francisco, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

Diaz is getting a breather after he went 4-for-11 with a double, three runs, an RBI, a walk and four strikeouts over the last three games. Brian Serven will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Stallings isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Brewers.

Stallings started the last two games and went 2-for-7 with two RBI, a walk and a strikeout. However, he'll get a breather while Nick Fortes starts behind the plate and bats sixth.