MLB Player News

Realmuto (head) is starting at catcher and batting cleanup Friday versus the Reds, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Realmuto was pulled from Wednesday's game after taking a pair of foul tips off his mask and didn't start Thursday, but he passed the concussion protocol and will only miss the one contest. The 30-year-old is slashing .364/.400/.636 with two homers, three doubles, 10 RBI and seven runs through nine games in August.

Murphy went 2-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, two RBI and two walks Thursday against Cleveland.

Murphy had a productive day, which began with a two-run double in the second inning. He also came around to score multiple runs in a game for the sixth time this season. Murphy has been productive of late, as he's now driven in at least one run in three consecutive contests and has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine starts. Overall, Murphy has maintained a .224/.318/.419 line with 13 home runs, 36 runs scored and 52 RBI across 355 plate appearances.

Zavala went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk Thursday against the Yankees.

Zavala hit one of three White Sox homers off of New York starter Andrew Heaney, taking the left-hander deep to center field in the fourth inning to give Chicago a 7-3 lead. It was the fourth homer in 21 games this season for Zavala, who had entered the day stuck in a 3-for-20 (.150) rut to start the month of August. He'll be headed either to a bench role or back to Triple-A Charlotte once starter Yasmani Grandal (knee) completes his rehab assignment.

Stassi (forearm) is not in Thursday's lineup but is feeling better since being hit by a pitch Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The team seemed to strike an optimistic tone regarding Stassi's injury, as manager Joe Maddon said he may be available as a defensive replacement off the bench Thursday. Stassi also took swings in the cage prior to the game, per Daniel Guerrero of MLB.com. Despite the optimism, it remains unclear whether Stassi will be able to return at some point during the team's weekend series against the Astros, or if he'll require a trip to the injured list. Kurt Suzuki is drawing the start behind the plate and batting ninth Thursday.

Stephenson went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in Thursday's win over Atlanta.

Stephenson took Edgar Santana deep in the ninth inning for his seventh homer of the year. He also picked up a double and a single en route to a season-best six total bases. It's been perhaps overshadowed by the breakouts of teammates Jesse Winker and Jonathan India, and the second-half resurgence of veteran Joey Votto, but the 24-year-old Stephenson has emerged as an important bat in the Reds lineup, slashing .287/.373/.429 with 35 RBI in 295 plate appearances.

Diaz isn't starting Thursday's game against the Giants, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Diaz struggled at the plate across his last two starts, as he went 1-for-8 with four strikeouts. Dom Nunez will start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Nola isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

Nola has gone 2-for-7 with a double, two RBI and two strikeouts across the last two games. Victor Caratini will catch right-hander Yu Darvish and bat eighth.

Contreras' knee sprain isn't considered a serious one, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The injury was bad enough to send him to the injured list, but the Cubs called that move precautionary. The team has little reason to risk any further injury for Contreras, who's one of the team's only remaining regulars following a major sell-off at the deadline. The team now sits 14 games out of a playoff spot and has very little to play for down the stretch, so the last thing they'll want to do is risk long-term injury to one of their best remaining players.

Realmuto passed his concussion tests Thursday and will be available off the bench against the Dodgers, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Realmuto took a pair of foul tips off his mask Wednesday and wound up leaving the game, but he appears to have avoided serious harm. While he's not in Thursday's lineup, he was probably due for an off day anyway, as he'd started six straight games behind the plate.

Barnhart will sit Thursday against Atlanta.

Barnhart sat in favor of Tyler Stephenson against every single lefty the Reds faced early in the season, and while the setup hasn't been quite as rigorous since the start of July, it's still usually been Stephenson behind the plate against southpaws. That will be the case Thursday as the Reds face lefty Kyle Muller.