MLB Player News

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.

Heim isn't starting Thursday against the Mariners.

Heim is on the bench for the second time in the last three games after he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout during Wednesday's loss to Seattle. Kevin Plawecki will start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Nola isn't starting Thursday against the Dodgers, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

After going 5-for-11 in his last four games, Nola will get a day off against Los Angeles. Luis Campusano will take over behind the plate for him and bat eighth.

Narvaez isn't starting Thursday against the Marlins.

Narvaez is on the bench for a second consecutive game since left-hander Braxton Garrett is starting for Miami. Victor Caratini will remain behind the dish and bat eighth.

Diaz was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday.

Diaz was subsequently placed on the Astros' taxi squad, so he will hang around the big-league club in case he's needed in the near future. The young backstop has one hit and a walk over just nine plate appearances this season. He will be replaced on the major-league roster by Jake Meyers, who was called up Thursday from Sugar Land.

Bethancourt is not in the lineup for Thursday's game at Cleveland, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Bethancourt started the past three games and will take a seat after he went 2-for-11 with an RBI, a run and six strikeouts during that span. Francisco Mejia will step in behind the plate and bat ninth in Thursday's series finale.

Contreras will start at catcher in Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Contreras served as the designated hitter in the first two games he appeared in after being activated from the injured list Tuesday, but he will be back behind the plate Thursday afternoon. The Cubs' regular leadoff hitter of late, Zach McKinstry, is not in Thursday's lineup, and Contreras will replace him atop the order.

Jeffers is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox.

After being activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Jeffers made his return to the lineup in Wednesday's 8-4 win and went 0-for-3 with a walk. He'll take a seat for the day game after a night game, but Jeffers should be part of a timeshare at catcher with Gary Sanchez for the final week of the season, if not the Twins' preferred option behind the dish.

Knizner went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss against the Brewers.

Knizner led off the seventh inning with a homer off righty reliever Matt Bush to cut the Cardinals' deficit to one. The catcher's last 14 games have been abysmal at the plate as he's recorded a .098 average and .268 slugging percentage over 41 at-bats. However after a recent 0-for-19 stretch , the 27-year-old has homered in back-to-back contests.

Haase is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

He'll get a breather for the day game after he was behind the plate for all nine innings of the Tigers' 2-1 win Wednesday night. Tucker Barnhart will get the starting nod at catcher, forming a battery with starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez.