MLB Player News

Contreras went 2-for-5 with a walk, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 14-2 rout of the Pirates.

The rookie backstop got Atlanta on the board in the second inning by taking Mitch Keller deep. Contreras has started only three of the last seven games despite a strong August in which he's batting .278 (20-for-72) with four of his 17 homers on the season, but there's been no indication from Atlanta the 24-year-old has been nursing any kind of injury.

Kirk went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Wednesday's extra-inning victory over the Red Sox.

The All-Star catcher recorded three hits Wednesday after going hitless in his previous two games. The multi-hit effort pushed Kirk's batting average back over .300. Of catchers with at least 200 plate appearances, Kirk is the only one with an average over that mark, with the second being Chrsitian Vazquez at .288, followed by Will Smith at .270. Sporting an elite batting average, double-digit home runs, and solid counting stats hitting in the middle of Toronto's lineup, Kirk has been one of the greatest surprises of the 2022 season.

Maile went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's 7-0 win over San Diego.

Maile tallied an RBI single off lefty starter Blake Snell with one out in the fourth to put Cleveland up 4-0. The catcher has been swinging a hot bat in August with a .394 average and 1.065 OPS over 33 at-bats in 10 games. Furthermore, the 31-year-old has eight RBI during that span and at least one hit in nine of those contests.

Narvaez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Narvaez is 0-for-9 with a walk and three strikeouts in three games since returning from the injured list Saturday, and he'll take a seat Wednesday with southpaw Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles. Victor Caratini will start behind the plate and bat seventh versus Los Angeles.

Contreras (ankle) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The 30-year-old didn't see the field during Tuesday's twin bill due to left ankle stiffness, and he won't rejoin Chicago's starting nine Wednesday. Contreras has been playing through the issue the past couple weeks, and he's now being forced to miss some time after aggravating the injury last week.

Smith isn't starting Wednesday against the Brewers, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.

Smith started the last six games and slashed .250/.308/.417 with a homer, a walk, eight RBI and three runs across that span. Austin Barnes will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Jansen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Jansen has been one of the big losers of the Blue Jays' reluctance to use George Springer in the outfield for the past few weeks while he's contended with elbow and knee injuries. With Springer clogging up the designated hitter spot for the second straight game Wednesday, Alejandro Kirk will serve as the Blue Jays' catcher. Though Jansen is the superior defender behind the plate, Kirk's bat is too potent for the Blue Jays to take him out of the lineup.

Sanchez will sit Wednesday versus the Astros.

Sanchez will take a seat after he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Tuesday's series opener. Sandy Leon will take over behind the plate and bat ninth against Houston.

Plawecki is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Plawecki appears to have reclaimed Boston's No. 1 catching job after starting each of the past three games while going 5-for-9 at the plate, but he'll get a breather Wednesday. Reese McGuire will catch for starting pitcher Brayan Bello while Plawecki rests.

Hedges is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.

Hedges returned Tuesday from a one-game absence due to a sprained ankle, starting at catcher while going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the Guardians' 3-1 win. Though he didn't suffer any apparent setbacks with the ankle Tuesday, Hedges will get a breather nonetheless while the two teams wrap up their series with a day game after a night game. Luke Maile will draw the start behind the plate.