MLB Player News

Gomes went 1-for-3 with a walk, a grand slam and five total RBI in Saturday's win over the Brewers.

Gomes reached the 10-homer plateau in style, as he blasted a grand slam in the first inning to get the Cubs going. The veteran catcher has been a pleasant surprise this season, as his 63 RBI are his most since he tallied a career-best 74 RBI back in 2014. It remains to be seen what the 36-year-old's role will be in 2024, though he appears to still have a little left in the tank based on this year's performance.

Heim went 1-for-4 with a walk and three RBI in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Mariners.

Heim had a two-run single in the third inning then walked with the bases loaded in the fourth, helping the Rangers to clinch a playoff berth. Texas can clinch the division title with a win in Sunday's season finale, which means an important piece like Heim could start one more game. The catcher's rate statistics fell off following an August wrist injury, but Heim has remained productive as a run producer, delivering 25 runs over 40 games since returning from the injury. For the season, Heim has a .375 batting average, .705 slugging percentage and a 1.117 OPS with runners in scoring position.

O'Hoppe went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Athletics.

O'Hoppe had one of just three hits for the Angels in the game, giving them a short-lived 3-1 lead in the seventh inning. The catcher is up to 14 homers this season, four of which have come over his last 10 games as he finishes the year in good form. He's slashing .238/.284/.503 with 29 RBI, 22 runs scored, six doubles and no stolen bases over 50 contests this season.

Langeliers went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 7-3 win over the Angels.

Langeliers' power has surged in September -- he hit six of his 22 homers this season during the month despite batting a meager .194 average (14-for-72) over his last 23 games. The catcher's blast put the Athletics ahead for good Saturday. Langeliers is at a .205/.268/.413 slash line with 63 RBI, 52 runs scored, 19 doubles, four triples and three stolen bases through 135 contests in his first full major-league season.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a walk, two home runs, a third run scored and six RBI in an 11-4 win over the Phillies during the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.

It was a big day for Mets catchers, as Omar Narvaez launched his second homer of the season in the matinee, but Alvarez was the star of the show in the nightcap. The 21-year-old slugged both his long balls off Michael Plassmeyer -- a two-run shot in the second inning and a grand slam in the third, the first of his young career. Alvarez is up to 25 homers in 122 games in his first full big-league season, and his .211/.285/.439 slash line figures to improve as he matures given his 77th percentile barrel rate and 91st percentile max exit velocity in 2023.

Realmuto isn't in the Phillies' lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets.

Realmuto will get a breather to conclude Saturday's activities after going 2-for-3 and with a run during the Game 1 loss. Garrett Stubbs will fill in behind the plate and bat seventh.

Smith will be on the bench Saturday against the Giants.

Smith sits for the second time in three days, with the Dodgers seemingly prioritizing rest in the final week of the regular season. He's one homer shy of his third straight 20-homer campaign but will have to wait until the final game of the season to try for it, unless he appears as a pinch hitter Saturday. Austin Barnes will start behind the plate in Smith's absence, catching for Clayton Kershaw.

Wells will sit Saturday against the Royals, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Wells has three homers and eight RBI across his last four games, but his slash line through his first 18 big-league contests still sits at an unimpressive .197/.229/.439. Kyle Higashioka will crouch behind the plate Saturday.

The Padres placed Campusano on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right ankle sprain.

Campusano's injury could help explain why he's missed each of the Padres' last four games, and it will officially keep him out for the final two. The 25-year-old backstop put up a .319/.356/.491 slash line through 174 plate appearances in 2023, and he projects as San Diego's primary catcher for 2024.

Wong will be on the bench Saturday against Baltimore, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Wong hits the bench after starting three games in a row behind the plate. Near the end of his first season as a big-league regular, the 27-year-old owns a .237/.290/.390 slash line. Reese McGuire will get the nod behind the plate.