MLB Player News

Fortes will start at catcher and bat seventh in Thursday's game against the Pirates, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Fortes is included in the lineup for the third game in a row and is getting his second turn behind the plate of the series after serving as a designated hitter in Wednesday's 5-4 win. The 25-year-old has produced an .866 OPS on the season, and the massive edge he holds in that category over the defensive-minded Jacob Stallings (.478) could be enough for Marlins manage Don Mattingly to consider deploying the two backstops in a timeshare, if not an arrangement that tilts more in Fortes' favor.

Stallings is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Stallings will get a breather for the matinee game after he went 0-for-2 while logging eight innings behind the dish in Wednesday's 5-4 win. Nick Fortes will catch for starting pitcher Braxton Garrett in the series finale.

Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Wednesday's win over the Cardinals.

The Dodgers trailed by six runs through six innings before Smith set off a late-game comeback with his two-run blast to center field in the seventh. The long ball extended his on-base streak to eight games, during which he's slashing .296/.424/.444 with seven RBI. Smith leads all major-league catchers with 14 homers on the season, and he is tied for first at the position with 45 RBI.

Marchan was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after Wednesday's loss to the Blue Jays.

The 23-year-old was promoted Tuesday since starting catcher J.T. Realmuto can't enter Canada due to his vaccination status. Garrett Stubbs started both games behind the plate for the Phillies, so Marchan will return to the minors without making his season debut.

Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

The 26-year-old was up in the majors the past few days but will quickly return to the minors with Kevin Plawecki back from the COVID-19 injured list. Wong is 1-for-7 with an RBI and two strikeouts in his eight big-league games this year.

Plawecki (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Plawecki landed on the COVID-19 IL earlier this week but was able to quickly clear the protocols and rejoin the team. Now that he's available, the 31-year-old will reclaim backup duties behind starting catcher Christian Vazquez. Connor Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move.

Gallagher is unable to enter Canada for the four-game series in Toronto this weekend due to his vaccination status, so he'll be placed on the restricted list Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Both Gallagher and MJ Melendez will be unable to make the trip to Canada due to being unvaccinated, so the Royals will need to call up some players from the minors to fill in behind the dish against the Blue Jays. Gallagher should reclaim his role as Kansas City's backup catcher following the All-Star break.

Heim (illness) is starting Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

Heim was unavailable Tuesday against Oakland due to an illness, but he'll start behind the plate and bat fifth during Wednesday's series finale. Over his last six games, he's hit .350 with five runs, a walk and three strikeouts.

Gomes isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Orioles.

Gomes went 0-for-3 during Tuesday's series opener and will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Willson Contreras is starting behind the plate while Rafael Ortega serves as the designated hitter.

Ruiz isn't starting the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Seattle, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Ruiz will get a breather after he went 2-for-4 with a double and a run during the first game of the twin bill. Tres Barrera is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.