MLB Player News

Grullon will make his first career start in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

Grullon will catch and bat eighth. The 23-year-old has been up for all of September but has made just a single plate appearance. He could get a few more opportunities to audition for the backup catcher job next season with J.T. Realmuto dealing with a sore knee. Grullon had long been seen as a defense-first prospect but has improved his stock over the last two seasons, hitting 21 homers in both campaigns while producing above-average batting lines. He's still unlikely to be anything more than a backup as long as he remains in the same organization as Realmuto.

Realmuto (knee) is not in the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader in Washington.

Realmuto's absence is no surprise, as he underwent an MRI on his sore knee Monday. The results of that test have not yet been released, but the Phillies are likely to be cautious down the stretch with the star catcher. Deivi Grullon gets his first career start behind the plate.

Gomes is not in the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Phillies.

Raudy Read gets the nod for the day's first game. Gomes will start behind the plate in the nightcap, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Realmuto's absence from the lineup Monday in Washington is due to a sore right knee, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

The injury helps explain why the catcher finds himself on the bench for the second time in four games. He'll undergo an MRI on Monday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports, though he's not particularly concerned about the severity of the issue. Regardless of the results of that test, there's a chance the Phillies don't bother bringing Realmuto back this season, as there's little reason to risk further injuring a key player with the team effectively out of the playoff race.

McGuire is not in the lineup Monday against the Orioles.

McGuire is enjoying a nice month at the plate, slashing .342/.432/.526 with a home run, four doubles and a 6:8 BB:K through 12 games. Danny Jansen is starting behind the dish in this one.

Realmuto is not starting Monday against the Nationals.

With the Phillies now six games out of a wild-card spot with seven games left to play, they may not ask Realmuto to handle his typically heavy workload down the stretch. Andrew Knapp starts behind the plate for the second time in four games.

Vazquez is not in the lineup Monday against the Rays, Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald reports.

Vazquez had started eight straight games, going 10-for-27 (.370) with three home runs and a 7:5 BB:K across that span. Sandy Leon is starting at catcher and hitting ninth against lefty Blake Snell in this one.

Smith went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk in a win over the Rockies on Sunday.

Smith's solo shot in the eighth inning snapped a streak of 13 games without going deep. It was also his first extra-base hit in a brutal September in which the 24-year-old has gone 5-for-44 (.114) with 14 strikeouts. Despite the rough month, Smith remains one of the better hitting backstops in the National League, posting a .242/.318/.561 slash line with 14 homers and 37 RBI in only 50 games this season.

Garver was removed from Sunday's game with right hip tightness and was pulled for precautionary reasons, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

With the Twins preparing for a run in the playoffs, they want everyone at full health, which is why they were taking no chances by removing Garver from the game after he was experiencing some hip tightness. The team has a day off Monday, which will give Garver some extra time to heal up before it takes on the Tigers in Detroit on Tuesday. It is not guaranteed that Garver plays Tuesday as he is listed as day-to-day. Jason Castro figures to draw the next start if Garver isn't able to go.

Mejia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Austin Hedges will step in behind the dish for the day game after Mejia started at catcher in Saturday's 4-2 loss. Mejia has gone 2-for-7 with a walk in two games since returning from the injured list Sept. 17.