MLB Player News

Stassi saw a specialist Friday to address his sore oblique, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Stassi has been out since Sept. 3 with the injury. Although he recently indicated that he is feeling better, the decision to consult a specialist suggests that the 28-year-old is not close to a return. With the regular season rapidly coming to an end, there is a strong chance that Stassi will not play again in 2019.

Sanchez (groin) has been doing a little running and throwing and is scheduled to hit off a tee in the cage Saturday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

Sanchez resumed running on a treadmill a couple days ago, a week after he went down with a groin strain. A return during the regular season seems unlikely, but Sanchez said he's confident he'll be back for the Yankees when it matters. Austin Romine and Kyle Higashioka have been splitting time behind the plate for New York.

Caratini is starting at catcher and batting sixth in Saturday's game against the Cardinals.

The Cubs are giving regular catcher Willson Contreras a breather after he started the last five games. Caratini enters the contest with a respectable .271/.352/.457 slash line in 221 at-bats this season.

Contreras is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals.

Contreras will take a seat after starting five straight games, with Victor Caratini starting at catcher and batting sixth in his place. With the Cubs battling for a playoff spot over their final eight games, expect them to ride Contreras fairly hard the rest of the way.

Mejia isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Mejia will take a seat following a scheduled off day Thursday. Luis Torrens is set to handle the catching duties and bat eighth.

Manager Aaron Boone is hoping that Sanchez (groin) will be ready for the start of postseason play Oct. 4, Randy Miller of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Boone's comments seem to indicate the Yankees aren't concerned about getting Sanchez back before the end of the regular season -- little surprise given that they clinched a postseason berth Thursday night -- and are instead focusing on getting him back to 100 percent, or at least close to it, for the playoffs. Sanchez still has some steps to go in his recovery, however.

Realmuto was held out of Friday's lineup in order to rest, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

The Phillies will attempt to keep pace in the playoff race Friday night without their starting catcher playing a full nine innings, but manager Gabe Kapler said it was simply time for Realmuto to take a break after starting the last nine games. Realmuto figures to play plenty the rest of the way, but he could get another day or two off with the Phillies playing 10 games in nine days following Friday's contest.

Realmuto is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Indians.

Realmuto's absence raises an eyebrow, as he owns an .884 OPS in September and the Phillies have a DH spot available while playing in an AL park. Realmuto has started all but two games this month, so it's possible he is simply getting a day off. Regardless, Andrew Knapp will handle the catching duties for the Phillies on Friday night.

Stallings (back) returns to the lineup Friday against Milwaukee.

Back tightness had kept Stallings off the field since last Friday. He'll bat seventh and start behind the plate Friday, catching Steven Brault.

Garver went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks while scoring three times in a victory over the Royals on Thursday.

Garver crushed a 421-foot shot to center field in the fifth inning to even the score at 5-5. After hitting only seven homers in 302 at-bats last season, Garver has exploded for 31 long balls in 297 at-bats in 2019. He leads all major-league catchers with 18 home runs since the All-Star break and ranks second at the position in total homers for the season. Remarkably, he has posted such prodigious power numbers despite splitting time with Jason Castro behind the plate. In fact, Garver's 9.6 AB/HR ranks first in the majors among players with 300 or more plate appearances.