MLB Player News

Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to Detroit on Tuesday.

Though Contreras' long ball was an afterthought on the scoreboard -- it came with Chicago down by seven runs in the ninth inning -- it could help the backstop get back on the right track as he had last gone deep Aug. 4. Since that date, Contreras went 7-for-52 (.135) with only one extra-base hit and 19 strikeouts before his 418-foot blast Tuesday. His season slash line of .216/.333/.386 is well below his career norm.

Garver (right intercostal strain) will not return from the IL when eligible this weekend, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. "I wouldn't say this is a quick, get to the end of 10 days, get ready to go," said president of baseball operations Derek Falvey. "We were hopeful of that, but he's remained a little bit sore."

Ryan Jeffers and Alex Avila will continue to split catching duties with Garver out. It sounds like there's a risk Garver may be out until mid-September.

Maldonado isn't in the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Maldonado went 0-for-2 with a walk and one strikeout in the first game of the doubleheader, and he'll take a seat for Game 2. Dustin Garneau will start behind the plate in his absence.

Heim is starting Tuesday against the Rangers.

Heim will bat ninth in his first taste of major-league action as he takes the place of Sean Murphy behind the dish. Despite his start Tuesday, Heim should continue to mainly play a backup role in the immediate future. The 25-year-old slashed .358/.412/.557 with four home runs at Triple-A last season.

Murphy isn't in Tuesday's lineup against the Rangers.

Murphy went 1-for-7 with one RBI and five strikeouts over the past two games, and he'll take a seat Tuesday. Jonah Heim will make his major-league debut at catcher in his place.

Grandal isn't in Tuesday's lineup against the Pirates.

Grandal started three consecutive games after returning from a back issue, but he'll get a day off against Pittsburgh. James McCann will start behind the plate Tuesday.

Gomes is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Phillies.

He is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak, batting .364 with two home runs and just two strikeouts in 33 at-bats over that span. Kurt Suzuki will start behind the dish and hit fifth.

Nido was placed on the injured list Tuesday for an undisclosed reason, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The team is not specifying which IL Nido is being placed on; reading between the lines, it seems his absence could be COVID-19 related. Pat Mazeika was recalled to take his spot on the active roster.

Jackson was optioned to the Braves' alternate training site Tuesday.

Ronald Acuna was activated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Jackson's placement on the 40-man roster means he could be back in the majors later this summer, but he has four strikeouts in seven at-bats this year and lacks the defensive chops to get playing time when he is not producing at the dish.

Casali went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Brewers.

Casali got the Reds on the board with his homer off Brett Anderson in the sixth. The backstop is hitting .179/.319/.513 while handling the short side of a catching platoon with Tucker Barnhart.