MLB Player News

Stassi is out of the lineup Saturday against the Padres.

Stassi has a .583 OPS and 39.7 percent strikeout rate through 18 games in August, and he'll take a seat Saturday for the second time in the past three days. Kurt Suzuki will work behind the plate and bat seventh in his place.

Contreras (knee) caught a bullpen session and participated in baserunning drills Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Contreras has been on the injured list for just over two weeks, but he's been increasing his activity level recently. Manager David Ross said the backstop is expected to begin a rehab assignment early next week, which would likely put him on track to return to the major-league club late in the week or over the weekend.

Stallings isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Cardinals, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Stallings will be out of the starting nine for the second time in the last three games after he went 3-for-4 with a run Friday. Michael Perez will start at catcher and bat eighth.

Nido isn't starting Saturday's game against Washington, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Nido returned from the injured list Friday and went 1-for-2 with a strikeout. Patrick Mazeika will take his place behind the dish and bat eighth.

Narvaez is on the bench for Saturday's game against the Twins.

Narvaez is omitted from the lineup for consecutive days after going 5-for-15 with a pair of doubles and two RBI in his last four starts. Manny Pina is catching and batting eighth Saturday.

Realmuto isn't starting Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Realmuto was initially slated to sit out Friday's contest but was added to the lineup after Andrew Knapp was placed on the COVID-19 injured list. Jean Segura revealed after Friday's game that Realmuto is dealing with a shoulder injury. However, manager Joe Girardi said that the 30-year-old is expected to start at first base Sunday, Breen reports.

McGuire isn't in the lineup Saturday against Detroit.

McGuire started each of the last two games and went 2-for-7 with a run and three strikeouts. Alejandro Kirk will start behind the dish and bat fourth.

Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in an 8-2 win over Oakland on Friday.

The backstop made his first start since Aug. 21 and pounded his second homer in his past three games. It has largely been a frustrating campaign for Higashioka, however, as he is slashing just .184/.256/.414 overall.

Perez went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and a walk in Friday's 8-7 extra-innings win over the Mariners.

Seattle got off to an early 5-1 lead in the contest, but Perez erased the deficit with one swing in the fourth inning. It marked his third straight game with a long ball and his second straight with a grand slam. Per ESPN, he joined Mike Piazza and Bill Dickey as the only catchers in history to belt a grand slam in consecutive games. Perez is tied with Vladimir Guerrero for the second-most homers (36) in MLB this season, trailing only Shohei Ohtani (41).

Smith went 3-for-3 with a solo home run Friday in a loss to the Rockies.

Smith tallied half of the Dodgers' six hits in the contest, and his third-inning solo homer gave the team its first run of the game. The catcher has gone deep in each of his past three contests, going 6-for-12 with three RBI and a stolen base over that span. He leads National League backstops with 21 homers on the season.