MLB Player News

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Wednesday that the team is hopeful Herrera (knee) can begin a running and catching program this weekend, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Herrera has progressed to hitting in the batting cage and playing catch and could take another step forward in his rehab this weekend. If that happens, the club will have a better idea on a timetable for his return. When the Cardinals announced last week that Herrera had been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee, he was estimated to be facing a four-week recovery timeline.

Dingler is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Brewers, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Dingler caught the first two games of the series, so he'll get a breather in Wednesday's matinee. Tomas Nido will be behind the plate and bat seventh.

Alvarez was removed from Tuesday's rehab game with Double-A Binghamton after being hit on his surgically repaired left hand by a pitch, Ezra Lombardi of New York Mets on SI reports.

After homering in his second plate appearance Tuesday, Alvarez was struck by an Eiberson Castellano offering in the top of the sixth inning. Alvarez initially remained in the game but was replaced at catcher in the bottom of the seventh. It's encouraging that Alvarez initially stayed in the game, but he will be examined and the Mets should have an update on his condition Wednesday. If he checks out fine, Alvarez could be ready to make his season debut soon.

Wong (finger) has begun baseball activities including some catching drills, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Wong is out indefinitely with a fracture of his left pinky finger. Boston manager Alex Cora was optimistic about Wong doing the catching drills and noted that Wong is progressing.

Smith went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Rockies.

The backstop took Ryan Feltner deep in the third inning, driving the first pitch he saw over the fence in left field. Smith has reeled off three straight multi-hit performances, and through 16 games on the season he's slashing .367/.475/.551 with two homers, one steal, six runs and 12 RBI.

Herrera (knee) played catch Tuesday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

It's his first bit of baseball activity since he landed on the 10-day injured list just over a week ago with a bone bruise in his left knee. Herrera will be brought along slowly, with the anticipation that he will be shelved for at least four weeks. Pedro Pages has been operating as the Cardinals' primary catcher in Herrera's stead.

Langeliers went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored Tuesday against the White Sox.

Langeliers tucked a 419-foot jack inside the left-field foul pole to extend the Athletics' lead to 5-3 in the third inning, and he later roped a double into left field to plate another run in the ninth. Although teammate Tyler Soderstrom's meteoric rise has commanded more attention, Langeliers is off to a strong start of his own. Through 64 plate appearances, the power-hitting backstop is slashing .250/.344/.518 with four long balls, three doubles, 10 RBI and eight walks.

Realmuto went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Giants.

Realmuto got the Phillies on the board in the second inning, when he took Justin Verlander deep to left-center field for a 387-foot solo homer, and the former brought in another run when his single in the sixth inning brought Kyle Schwarber home. Tuesday was Realmuto's first game since April 2 in which he recorded an RBI. He's slashing .245/.327/.367 with four stolen bases, one home run and five RBI in 55 plate appearances this season.

Kelly (hand) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres.

Kelly will rest for a second consecutive day after taking a pitch off his hand during Sunday's game. Miguel Amaya will catch for Shota Imanaga and bat eighth Tuesday.

Diaz is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.

It's the second straight game on the bench for Diaz, who has a .233/.361/.267 slash line through 11 games this year. Martin Maldonado will receive another start behind the plate Tuesday, as each catcher has received nine starts through San Diego's first 18 contests of the season.