MLB Player News

Kelly is out of the lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Reds.

Despite contributing four RBI to a 17-5 win Saturday, Kelly will sit out Sunday's series finale with the Reds. Miguel Amaya will be the backstop and bat ninth for the Cubs.

Manager Dave Roberts said Smith (neck) is expected to rejoin the Dodgers when MLB rosters expand Tuesday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

The veteran catcher started up a rehab assignment Aug. 25 and has gone 3-for-13 with two doubles and a homer through four rehab games. Smith has been out since early June due to a neck injury, but it appears he's ready to rejoin the Dodgers for the final month of the season. Before landing on the injured list the 31-year-old was in the midst of an underwhelming campaign with what would be a career-worst .720 OPS in 52 contests.

Basallo (hand) is absent from the lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Athletics.

After being removed early from Saturday's game with a right hand injury, Basallo will sit out Sunday's series finale in Sacramento. Pete Alonso will act as the designated hitter and bat second, while Carlos Narvaez will handle catching duties and bat eighth for Baltimore.

Conteras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

It's likely just a maintenance day for Contreras, who batted a blistering .455 (15-for-33) with three doubles, a homer, seven RBI and five runs while starting the previous eight contests. Gary Sanchez is working behind the plate and batting sixth in the series finale versus Texas.

Hicks is absent from Tampa Bay's lineup for their matchup with San Diego on Sunday.

Despite recording at least one hit in five of his last six games, including a multi-hit performance Saturday, Hicks will ride the pine for Sunday's series finale. Nick Fortes will handle the catching duties and bat eighth for the Rays.

Mack is absent from Sunday's lineup against the Nationals.

Mack has struggled at the plate in his last 15 games, slashing just .200/.265/.289 over 49 plate appearances. The 23-year-old will get a breather for the third game of a four-game set against Washington, with Brian Navarreto handling catching duties and batting ninth for Miami.

Flores went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Saturday against the Cardinals.

Flores gave the Pirates some breathing room when he went yard in the fifth inning of Saturday's win. He's been in roughly a 50-50 split for playing time behind the plate with Henry Davis over the last three weeks, while also picking up a handful of starts at first base. Flores has shown a boom-or-bust profile in that span, tallying six home runs with 15 RBI and nine runs scored across 15 games while also striking out at a 36.4 percent clip.

The Phillies plan to reinstate Marchan (knee) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Active rosters expand to 28 players at the start of September, and the Phillies plan to reinstate the switch-hitting Marchan to provide the club with a third option at catcher along with J.T. Realmuto and Garrett Stubbs. Marchan, who's recovering from patellar tendinitis in left knee, is batting .206 with one RBI, five walks and three runs scored in 10 games thus far during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Kelly went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI, a double, a walk and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 17-5 win over the Reds.

Kelly was outshined by Pete Crow-Armstrong's three-homer, six-RBI performance, but he still enjoyed a massive day at the dish in his own right. The veteran backstop amassed at least four RBI for the third time this season. He's on the verge of surpassing last season's career high of 50 RBI, as Kelly's slashing .260/.343/.386 with nine big flies, 49 RBI and 49 runs scored over 359 plate appearances.

Basallo was removed from the eighth inning of Saturday's game against the Athletics due to an apparent right hand injury, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Basallo blocked a pitch with his right hand in the seventh inning and initially stayed in the game after being checked on by trainers, but he was removed from the contest following his plate appearance in the eighth, with Yohel Pozo taking over behind home plate. The Orioles should have an update on Basallo once he undergoes more tests.