Willson Contreras
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2017Lake Monsters77285336627160924750030.2320.2910.382
2018Old Geezers11741250853815020401174100.2060.2780.388
2019Old Geezers1113894774393046291112000.1900.2660.334
2020Old Geezers10539164977818233291072030.2480.3290.558
2021Old Geezers13344262806316022431234000.1810.2970.367
2022Old Geezers12843863774528015531524100.1760.2950.342
2023Old Geezers11236440603715212371002000.1650.2910.316
2024Old Geezers123435661005622120711124100.2300.3640.423
2025Moose00000000000000.0000.0000.000
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 28 2025Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double, a walk and a stolen base in a 9-6 win against Cleveland on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras provided an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning with a 430-foot solo blast. Prior to that, he reached base twice and swiped third base in the seventh frame. This was the first time this season that Contreras has homered and stolen a base in the same game. He had been in the midst of a cold spell coming into Saturday, batting .182 with 15 strikeouts over his previous 44 at-bats.
Jun 20 2025Contreras isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will get a chance to rest Friday after going 2-for-10 with three walks, five RBI and three runs scored in St. Louis' last series against the White Sox. Alec Burleson will fill the void at first base, opening up right field for Jordan Walker.
Jun 19 2025Contreras went 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three RBI in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and later tied the game with a two-run homer in the eighth. The 33-year-old is enjoying a productive June, with nine extra-base hits and 18 RBI over 16 games. For the season, he's slashing .249/.338/.421 with 10 home runs, 48 RBI, 36 runs scored and three steals across 300 plate appearances.
Jun 14 2025Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 8-5 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras padded the Cardinals' lead to 8-4 with a 397-foot home run in the ninth inning. The 33-year-old has been scorching in June, hitting safely in 11 of 13 games while tallying eight extra-base hits, 14 RBI and nine runs scored. For the year, he's slashing .255/.340/.422 with nine homers, 44 RBI, 34 runs scored and two steals across 286 plate appearances.
Jun 5 2025Contreras went 4-for-8 with two doubles, one walk, four RBI and two runs scored as the Cardinals split Thursday's doubleheader versus the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras hadn't posted a multi-hit effort since May 16, which was coincidentally also against the Royals. He's hit safely in six straight games, including logging a double in four of them. For the season, the 33-year-old is at a .250/.328/.391 slash line with six home runs, 36 RBI, 28 runs scored, 13 doubles and two stolen bases over 58 games.
May 31 2025Contreras went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, one walk and one run scored in Saturday's victory over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He contributed to both runs in Saturday's victory, scoring on a Nolan Arenado sacrifice fly in the second inning and later driving in Masyn Winn with a ground-rule double in the fourth. Contreras has been slumping at the plate, slashing .224/.270/.345 over his past 15 games. The 33-year-old's power has noticeably declined in 2025, with his current .379 slugging percentage well below his career mark of .456. Despite a solid overall start to the season, the Cardinals would certainly benefit from Contreras rediscovering his power stroke.
May 26 2025Contreras (back) is in the lineup for Monday's game against Orioles, starting at first base and batting cleanup. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A bout of back spasms kept Contreras out of the starting lineup for all three games over the weekend, but he reported improvement Sunday and is evidently feeling well to play in the series opener in Baltimore against right-hander Charlie Morton. The 33-year-old Contreras has six homers this year but has not produced to his usual levels so far, posting a .729 OPS through 49 games, matching his career low.
May 25 2025Contreras (back) may return to the Cardinals' lineup Monday versus the Orioles, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was once again sidelined for Sunday's 4-3 win over the Diamondbacks, missing his third straight game with back spasms. Manager Oli Marmol said following the contest that the catcher is doing "better" and that he hopes Contreras will start Monday's series opener in Baltimore. Considering Contreras was able to move around the field and take batting practice Sunday, he appears to be on track for a return to the lineup in the near future.
May 24 2025Contreras (back) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was a late scratch from Friday's lineup due to back spasms, and he'll need at least another day to recover. Alec Burleson will fill in for him at first base and bat fifth.
May 23 2025Contreras was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Diamondbacks due to back spasms, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Contreras removed from the Cardinals' lineup, Alec Burleson will shift over to first base, Brendan Donovan will move to left field and Nolan Gorman will start at second base. Contreras has slashed .299/.385/.493 with three home runs and 16 RBI across 78 plate appearances since the beginning of May.
May 16 2025Contreras went 2-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored in Friday's 10-4 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was the sixth multi-hit showing of the month already for Contreras, who extended his on-base streak to 15 games in the process. During this streak, the veteran slugger is batting .365 (19-for-52) with four home runs, four doubles, 17 RBI and 12 runs scored. After moving away from the catcher position to first base for the Cardinals in 2025, Contreras has been able to appear in 44 of St. Louis' 45 games so far.
May 9 2025Contreras went 2-for-4 with one run scored, a double and three RBI in Friday's 10-0 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras got the Cardinals on the board with a two-run double in the first inning, and he brought in an additional run in the eighth, when he drew a bases-loaded walk. He has recorded at least one RBI in six of the last nine games he's played in, and over that span he has gone 12-for-30 (.400) with six runs scored, three home runs and 13 RBI.
May 5 2025Contreras went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 6-3 win against Pittsburgh on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras turned the game around for St. Louis in the sixth inning, slugging a two-run homer to give the team a lead that it didn't relinquish. After a slow start to the season, the catcher-turned-first-baseman has been heating up lately, notching multiple hits in four of his past six games. Over that span, Contreras is batting .455 (10-for-22) with three home runs and 10 RBI.
May 4 2025Contreras went 4-for-8 with a home run and four RBI as the Cardinals swept Sunday's doubleheader versus the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had a big performance in the day game, during which he collected three of his hits, including a solo home run and a two-run single. He has posted multiple hits in three of his last six games, going 8-for-20 (.400) with two homers and eight RBI in that span. For the season, he's at a .244/.322/.374 slash line with four homers, 17 RBI, 14 runs scored and two stolen bases over 34 contests as the Cardinals' primary first baseman.
Apr 21 2025Contreras went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Monday's loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras tried to bring St. Louis back with a two-run shot off Raisel Iglesias in the ninth inning that brought his team within a run, but the comeback attempt ultimately fell short. The long ball was only the second of 2025 for Contreras, who belted 15 homers in just 358 plate appearances last season. The catcher-turned-first-baseman is slashing a paltry .182/.234/.295 on the campaign, but he's been bringing that mark up of late, going 6-for-16 over his past four games.
Apr 14 2025Contreras went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, a double and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras opened up the scoring in the fourth with a two-run blast to left for his first home run of the year. He also matched his extra-base hit season total with two Sunday. Contreras is off to a very slow start with his bat but now has four hits and three RBI in his last two games. For the year, he's hitting .158/.213/.263 with six RBI, six runs and a 2:22 BB:K in 62 plate appearances.
Apr 11 2025Contreras is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a day off for the slumping Contreras, who is just 5-for-49 with 22 strikeouts in the early going. Alec Burleson is at first base for the Cardinals, and Jordan Walker has moved up to the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
Apr 10 2025Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol is weighing the possibility of moving the slumping Contreras down in the batting order, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Conteras has gotten off to a dreadful start this season, going 5-for-49 with 22 strikeouts, and he's done so while mostly batting second for St. Louis. The 32-year-old is a good bet to eventually get going offensively, but it's possible he'll be moved to a lower profile spot in the batting order while he's scuffling. If Marmol wants to continue alternating his lefty and righty hitters, Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn would appear to be the most likely candidates to be elevated to the No. 2 spot, if Contreras is indeed dropped lower in the lineup.
Apr 7 2025Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Contreras is not a candidate to move back to catcher in the wake of the Ivan Herrera (knee) injury, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will be available as an emergency third catcher, but he is set to remain the team's primary first baseman. Pedro Pages will receive the bulk of the reps at catcher for St. Louis while Herrera is out, and Yohel Pozo has been called up to serve as Pages' understudy.
Apr 1 2025Contreras is absent from the lineup in Tuesday's game versus the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras is still looking for his first hit of the season, having gone 0-for-18 with eight strikeouts in the Cardinals' first four games. Alec Burleson will cover first base and Nolan Gorman will be the DH on Tuesday while Contreras regroups.
Mar 19 2025Contreras reached base in all three of his plate appearances Wednesday versus the Nationals and is now slashing .412/.512/.588 during Grapefruit League play. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has drawn positive reviews for his defense at first base and if this spring is any indication, a move off catcher could unlock more offense for the 32-year-old. He's expected to see most of his action at first base in 2025 but will also be used some at designated hitter, as he was Wednesday.
Feb 19 2025Contreras said recently that he added 10-to-12 pounds of muscle over the offseason, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras is moving from catcher to first base this season and is less concerned about flexibility, freeing him up to add some bulk over the winter. The 32-year-old said "the ball is jumping a lot better than last year" during his hitting early on in camp. Contreras will remain eligible at catcher in fantasy leagues in 2025 but should play more often and hopefully have a better chance of staying healthy, making him an intriguing selection in draft rooms.
Nov 6 2024Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Wednesday that Contreras will be a full-time first baseman and designated hitter next season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mozeliak added that it's unlikely Contreras will do any catching at all in 2025, with Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages set to split duties behind the plate. Contreras has played 11 games at first base in his career, with his last start there coming in 2019. Contreras has slashed a robust .263/.367/.468 with 35 home runs over 209 games in his two seasons in St. Louis, but he's had trouble staying healthy and his defense at catcher has often drawn criticism. The move enhances Contreras' fantasy outlook for 2025 since he should be in the lineup more often, and it also bumps up the playing time projection for Herrera and Pages.
Sep 16 2024Contreras has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season after having his fractured right middle finger evaluated Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras still needs two more weeks of rest before beginning baseball activities, so he will run out of time. On the bright side, he should be healed up in time to have a relatively normal offseason. Contreras will finish the 2024 season having been limited to just 84 games due to injury, although he was productive when on the field with an .848 OPS and 15 home runs. Pedro Pages and Ivan Herrera will continue to share catching duties for the Cardinals in the final two weeks.
Sep 12 2024Contreras (finger) will be re-evaluated Monday as the Cardinals plan out his potential return, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had the splint on his fractured right middle finger removed a week ago and should be cleared to increase activities Monday. There's not much time for him to ramp things back up, but Contreras could make it back for the final week or so of the season if all goes well.
Aug 26 2024Contreras won't require surgery on his fractured right middle finger, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will be considered no impact for the next three weeks, but if all goes well, he'll be cleared to start a progression at that time. It's unclear how long he would need to ramp back up, but he'd need to do so quickly to have a chance to return for the final week or two of the regular season.
Aug 25 2024The Cardinals placed Contreras (finger) on the 10-day injured list Sunday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 32-year-old fractured the middle finger on his right hand when he was hit by a pitch Saturday against the Twins, so his move to the injured list was to be expected. It's unclear how long Contreras is expected to be sidelined, but he's likely to be out beyond the 10-day minumum.
Aug 24 2024Contreras fractured the middle finger on his right hand during Saturday's game against the Twins and will be placed on the injured list, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was hit in the hand by a pitch in the fourth inning of Saturday's game and was replaced at DH the next time through the order. After undergoing testing, the catcher was diagnosed with a fractured finger and will require a stint on the IL. While he's sidelined, Pedro Pages should see plenty of work behind the dish and Ivan Herrera will likely be recalled from Triple-A Memphis to back Pages up.
Aug 10 2024Contreras went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, two home runs and four RBI in Friday's 8-5 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran backstop bookended a big day for the Cardinals' offense by launching a two-run homer off Michael Lorenzen in the first inning and a solo shot off Angel Zerpa in the ninth. With the performance, Contreras snapped an 11-game homer drought, a stretch in which he hit just .146 (6-for-41) with one RBI. On the season, he has 15 doubles, 15 home runs and 34 RBI in 72 contests, and Contreras' .875 OPS would be his highest mark since 2019.
Jul 28 2024Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras opened the scoring with his first-inning blast off Washington starter DJ Herz. This was Contreras' second game in a row with a homer, and he's gone deep three times over nine contests since the All-Star break. The steady catcher is up to 13 long balls, 29 RBI, 37 runs scored and three stolen bases while slashing .274/.394/.519 through 60 games this season.
Jul 27 2024Contreras went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's 14-3 loss to the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras got the Cardinals on the board in the sixth inning, but his homer only cut the deficit to 9-2. The catcher has gone 9-for-31 (.290) over eight games since the All-Star break. For the year, he's up to a .274/.396/.510 slash line with 12 homers, 28 RBI, 36 runs scored, three stolen bases and 13 doubles over 59 contests.
Jul 22 2024Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-2 win over Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras also struck out three times, his first game with multiple strikeouts since July 10. The catcher is hitting .317 (19-for-60) with five homers and 13 RBI over 16 contests this month. For the season, he's up to 11 long balls, 26 RBI, 33 runs scored, 13 doubles, three stolen bases and a .279/.402/.521 slash line across 229 plate appearances. While his strikeout rate is 27.1 percent -- the second-highest mark of his career -- he's offset it with a personal-best 14.8 percent walk rate.
Jul 21 2024Contreras went 4-for-9 with one RBI and one run scored across both games of Saturday's doubleheader versus Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras notched his fourth multi-hit effort over 15 games in July with a three-hit game in the nightcap. The catcher looks like he hasn't missed a beat since returning from a broken forearm in late June, batting .278 with four homers and 13 RBI over 22 contests following a six-week absence. He's up to a .280/.404/.511 slash line with 10 homers, 25 RBI, 32 runs scored, 13 doubles and three stolen bases through 53 games this season. Manager Oliver Marmol has committed to keeping Contreras in the lineup, so he should start at either catcher or designated hitter on a near-everyday basis.
Jul 14 2024Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will get a breather after he played in both ends of Saturday's doubleheader, starting at designated hitter in the first game and at catcher in the second game while going a combined 3-for-6 with a home run, three walks, three runs and two RBI. Pedro Pages will step in behind the plate for the resting Contreras.
Jul 7 2024Contreras went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, three RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had a monster game against the Nationals, contributing in all facets and extended a hitting streak to six games in Sunday's win. He clubbed his ninth home run of the season and his third in his last six games. The veteran had his first three RBI game of the season and picked up his third stolen base in the process. He's been playing well since returning from the IL and is hitting .299/.399/.529 for the campaign.
Jul 5 2024Contreras went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in a 7-6 win over the Nationals on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras hit an RBI single in the fifth inning and tied the game with a solo home run in the ninth. The catcher went just 4-for-23 in June after returning from the injured list but has five hits and two home runs in his past four games. On the season, he is hitting .265 with eight home runs, 17 RBI and 25 runs scored over 178 plate appearances.
Jul 4 2024Contreras went 1-for-3 with two walks and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 32-year-old catcher tied the game at 3-3 in the eighth inning by taking Colin Holderman deep. It was Contreras' seventh homer of the year but his first in nine games since returning from a fractured forearm, a stretch in which he's batting just .200 (6-for-30). He does have extra-base hits in back-to-back contests after ripping a double Tuesday, however, so he's showing signs of regaining his form at the plate. On the campaign, Contreras is slashing .263/.395/.504 through 40 games.
Jun 24 2024The Cardinals activated Contreras (forearm) from the 10-day injured list Monday. He'll start at catcher and bat third in the Cardinals' series opener versus Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was initially expected to miss around 10 weeks after he suffered a fractured left forearm in early May, but he'll make it back from the IL in just six and a half weeks. The Cardinals could manage Contreras' workload carefully as he settles back in with the big club, but fantasy managers should feel free to activate ahead of this week's action. Contreras posted a .950 OPS with six home runs over 31 games before getting injured.
Jun 17 2024Contreras (forearm) could be activated from the 10-day injured list as soon as next Monday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday and might require less than a week of rehab games before rejoining the Cardinals lineup. Woo cautions that the catcher's timeline for rejoining the big club remains tentative, and a firmer return date may not come into focus until Contreras gets a few rehab games under his belt.
Jun 16 2024Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Contreras (forearm) is likely to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with either Triple-A Memphis or Double-A Springfield, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras reached a meaningful milestone in his recovery from surgery to repair a fractured left forearm by taking batting practice earlier in the weekend, and with the veteran backstop apparently coming out of the workout without any renewed soreness, he looks like he's ready for game action. Because he's been on the shelf since May 8, Contreras could stay on his minor-league rehab assignment throughout the week before potentially returning from the 10-day injured list before the end of June. Once Contreras is activated, he should reclaim the No. 1 catcher's role from Ivan Herrera.
Jun 15 2024Contreras (forearm) is targeting a return in late June, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has resumed taking batting practice and hopes to be cleared to begin a rehab assignment early next week. If that happens, a return sometime during the Cardinals' June 22-30 homestand is likely. It would be at least a couple weeks quicker than he was initially expected back following surgery in early May to repair a fractured forearm.
Jun 13 2024Contreras (forearm) is hoping to begin a rehab assignment around June 18, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras is just five weeks into a projected 10-week timetable following surgery to repair a fractured left forearm, but Goold writes that the catcher is "eager to push the timetable for his return." He took batting practice in the cage Thursday and has been catching bullpen sessions without issue. If Contreras is indeed able to start a rehab assignment by Tuesday, he could be just a week or so away from activation.
Jun 11 2024Contreras (forearm) hit soft toss Tuesday and caught a bullpen session, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had previously been throwing, running and catching, but Tuesday marks the first time he's swung a bat since undergoing surgery May 9. The 32-year-old also caught a bullpen from Nick Robertson on Tuesday, an encouraging sign considering the fractured wrist was on his glove hand. Still, it's been just over four weeks of what's expected to be a 10-week recovery period for Contreras, which puts a timeline for return in the middle of July.
Jun 6 2024Contreras (forearm) was throwing, catching and running on the field prior to Thursday's game against the Rockies, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has been participating in all three activities since the Cardinals' last stretch of road games. It's an encouraging sign that the 32-year-old backstop is recovering well from his fractured left forearm, but he still is not expected back until closer to the All-Star break. Until then, Ivan Herrera will continue to serve as St. Louis' primary catcher.
May 9 2024Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday that Contreras is likely to be sidelined for about 10 weeks after successful surgery Wednesday to repair a fractured left forearm, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had offered a 6-to-8 week timetable himself earlier this week, but indications are that it will probably be a bit longer than that. It puts the catcher out likely until right around the All-Star break. Ivan Herrera will operate as the Cardinals' primary catcher while Contreras is sidelined, with Pedro Pages backing him up.
May 8 2024The Cardinals placed Contreras on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras fractured his left forearm when he was struck by J.D. Martinez's bat on a catcher's interference call during Tuesday's 7-5 loss. He will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair the fracture and is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks. Ivan Herrera will be the Cardinals' primary catcher while Contreras is out, while Pedro Pages has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis to take Contreras' roster spot and serve as the team's No. 2 backstop.
May 7 2024Contreras said Tuesday that he will undergo surgery on his fractured left forearm within the next several days and will miss 6-to-8 weeks, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After getting hit in the forearm by a swing during the second inning of Tuesday's game, Contreras will officially be sidelined for up to two months -- a huge blow to a Cardinals offense that already ranks near the bottom of the NL in OPS (.636) and runs (126). Ivan Herrera is now the favorite to receive the bulk of starts behind the plate while Contreras is out, and it's likely the Cardinals promote Pedro Pages from Triple-A Memphis to be the new backup.
May 5 2024Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and three strikeouts in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras accounted for all the offense for St. Louis on Sunday, launching a solo shot off of Garrett Crochet in the bottom of the fourth inning. The long ball was his sixth of the year and second in the last four contests. Contreras is now batting .275 with six home runs, 11 RBI, 18 runs scored and two stolen bases over 102 at-bats in 29 games in 2024.
May 3 2024Contreras went 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and a walk in Friday's win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras scored runs in the first and fifth innings, both coming via Nolan Arenado doubles. Since his last multi-hit game April 17, Contreras was stuck in a 9-for-43 (.209) slump in 12 games. Despite the streakiness, he still owns a strong .281/.395/.531 slash line through 114 plate appearances.
May 2 2024Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras also struck out three times Wednesday for the third consecutive game. He'll likely be happy to put the Tigers in the rear-view mirror after going 1-for-13 with nine strikeouts during the three-game series in Detroit. That poor stretch has dropped Contreras to a .258/.373/.505 slash line on the year, and he's added five homers, 10 RBI, 14 runs scored, eight doubles and a stolen base through 110 plate appearances. Contreras has caught four of the Cardinals' last six games, so it appears he's managing his lingering soreness from a left hand injury fairly well.
Apr 27 2024Contreras went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 4-2 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals mustered just five hits, but Contreras and Alec Burleson provided a pair of homers to make it work. Contreras continues to play through a lingering hand injury, and while it's limited his ability to catch, he's been fine at the plate. Since the injury occurred April 3, he's gone 17-for-52 (.327) with two homers, six doubles and five RBI. For the season, he's slashing .296/.425/.563 with four homers, nine RBI, 12 runs scored, seven doubles and a stolen base over 21 contests. Contreras will continue to split time between catcher and designated hitter.
Apr 24 2024Contreras (hand) will start at designated hitter and bat second in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He made an early exit from Tuesday's loss to Arizona with lingering left hand soreness, although Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said afterward that Contreras' removal had more to do with the lopsided score. Contreras intends to continue playing through discomfort, but might see more reps at DH than catcher, opening up starts behind the plate for Ivan Herrera.
Apr 23 2024Contreras went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 14-1 loss to the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras provided a positive start for the Cardinals with his first-inning blast, but it quickly went off the rails for the home team after that. The catcher saw his 11-game hitting streak end Monday, but he's still been one of the Cardinals' most consistent bats so far. He's slashing .292/.418/.523 with three homers, eight RBI, 10 runs scored, six doubles and a stolen base over 19 contests. Manager Oliver Marmol has committed to getting both Contreras and Ivan Herrera regular at-bats, so they have often shared catcher and designated hitter in recent weeks.
Apr 9 2024Contreras (hand) will be the designated hitter and bat third on Tuesday versus the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras still isn't able to squeeze his catcher's mitt due to lingering soreness in his left hand and admits that "it does bother me to swing a little bit," per John Denton of MLB.com. However, he's feeling well enough to DH in this one and is hoping to be ready to catch by this weekend. Ivan Herrera is getting another start behind the plate Tuesday.
Apr 8 2024Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that he's confident Contreras (hand) will be ready to return to the lineup Tuesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Marmol also revealed that Contreras wasn't actually scratched from Monday's lineup, but rather he was never meant to be included in the lineup that was ultimately released. However, while he will sit out a fourth straight game with a sore left hand, it sounds like he should be ready to go Tuesday. Ivan Herrera is getting another start at catcher Monday.
Apr 7 2024Contreras (hand) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was initially in the lineup Saturday before being scratched as he continues to battle hand soreness after being hit by a pitch Wednesday, and he won't return to the starting nine for Sunday's series finale versus Miami. Ivan Herrera will receive another look behind the plate for St. Louis, but the Cardinals anticipate that Contreras will return to action at some point during the club's upcoming three-game series with the Phillies that begins Monday, per John Denton of MLB.com.
Apr 6 2024Contreras (hand) was scratched from the Cardinals' lineup ahead of Saturday's game against Miami, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was originally slated to serve as St. Louis' designated hitter Saturday, but he is evidently still bothered by his left hand after getting hit by a pitch Wednesday against the Padres. The decision to remove him from the lineup seems to be a precautionary measure, and the 31-year-old backstop should still be considered day-to-day. Alec Burleson will fill in as the replacement DH on Saturday.
Apr 4 2024Contreras did not suffer a fracture in his hand and is hoping to be available to play Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was held out of the lineup Thursday after being hit in the hand with a pitch the day prior. It's unclear whether he'll be able to start behind the plate Saturday against Miami, but X-rays came back clean and it doesn't appear that he'll be in for a long-term absence.
Apr 3 2024Contreras went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer Tuesday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For a second straight night, Contreras got to jog around the bases, this time after tagging Yu Darvish for a two-run home run to plate Brendan Donovan and give the Cardinals a 3-2 sixth-inning lead. Although Contreras has yet to log a multi-hit game, he's generated three runs scored and driven in four en route to a .176/.333/.529 slash line.
Apr 2 2024Contreras went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a hit-by-pitch in Monday's 6-2 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras' first-inning blast gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead, which was enough support for Kyle Gibson. It's been a bit of a slow start to the year for Contreras -- he's 2-for-14 with two walks, five strikeouts and two runs scored over four contests. Facing the Dodgers' formidable pitching staff in the first series likely played a role in that, so he should be expected to hit just fine over a larger sample.
Mar 30 2024Contreras isn't in the Cardinals' lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will catch a breather Saturday after starting the year 1-for-7 with three strikeouts across St. Louis' first two games. Ivan Herrera will fill in behind the dish and bat sixth.
Feb 21 2024Contreras participated in a live BP session Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was shut down at the end of 2023 with tendinitis in his left wrist. There was no need for offseason surgery, so it's safe to assume the catcher is healthy this spring. Contreras is projected to top the Cardinals' depth chart at catcher in 2024, with Ivan Herrera his likely backup following Andrew Knizner's move to the Rangers in the offseason. Contreras should see a fairly heavy workload as long as he can avoid a recurrence of the tendinitis.
Sep 21 2023The Cardinals placed Contreras on the 10-day injured list Thursday with tendinitis in his left wrist, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras' move to the injured list will officially put an end to his season, opening the door for Andrew Knizner and Ivan Herrera to log a few extra starts before the end of the year. Contreras will finish the season with a .264/.358/.467 slash line alongside 20 homers and 67 RBI across 495 plate appearances.
Sep 20 2023Contreras was removed from Wednesday's game against the Brewers due to left wrist discomfort. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras' wrist had been bothering him heading into Wednesday's game and ultimately caused him to make an early exit in the sixth inning. The Cardinals may hold Contreras out for a day or two so he can properly recover, but an extended absence likely won't be necessary.
Sep 19 2023Contreras is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras contributed the difference-making solo home run in the Cardinals' 1-0 defeat of the Brewers on Monday, but he'll take a seat Tuesday as Andrew Knizner starts behind the plate and bats eighth. Paul Goldschmidt is filling the DH role with Alec Burleson handling first base.
Sep 17 2023Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started the past two contests after dealing with a bruised hand, and he'll take a seat Sunday after going 3-for-7 with a double and three walks in the first two games of the series. Andrew Knizner will work behind the plate and bat eighth.
Sep 15 2023Contreras (hand) is at catcher and batting fifth Friday versus the Phillies in his return to the lineup, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras exited Tuesday's game and didn't play Wednesday because of a bruised right hand, but he's back in there following Thursday's off day. The 31-year-old carries a .940 second-half OPS into play Friday.
Sep 13 2023Contreras (hand) is not in the lineup Wednesday at Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras made an early exit from Tuesday's win over the Orioles because of a right hand contusion and is presumably day-to-day. Andrew Knizner will start at catcher and bat seventh for the Cardinals in Wednesday's series finale at Camden Yards.
Sep 12 2023Contreras was removed from Tuesday's game against Baltimore with a right hand contusion, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's unclear how serious the injury that caused Contreras' removal is, but he was replaced by Andrew Knizner after the fifth inning. Contreras should be considered day-to-day going forward.
Sep 11 2023Contreras went 3-for-4 with two RBI in Monday's 11-5 loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has multiple hits in five of his last nine games, going 13-for-35 (.371) with six home runs and 15 RBI in that span. It's a strong push for the catcher, who has struggled to adjust in his first year with the Cardinals. He's at a .261/.353/.461 slash line with 19 homers, 66 RBI, 53 runs scored, six stolen bases and 26 doubles over 120 contests, and he appears set to close out the season strong.
Sep 10 2023Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started the first two games of the series against the Reds and will receive a day off after going 3-for-8 with two homers and six RBI. Andrew Knizner will step in behind the plate to catch for Miles Mikolas.
Sep 9 2023Contreras went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 4-3 win over Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras came up with a couple big hits early for the Cardinals, plating a run with a first-inning single and adding a two-run homer in the third. It was third straight contest with a long ball for the veteran catcher, and he's knocked in exactly three runs in each of those contests. With 19 homers on the year, Contreras needs one more the rest of the way to record his fourth straight full season (excluding the shortened 2020 campaign) with at least 20 long balls.
Sep 8 2023Contreras went 1-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Friday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras opened the scoring in the first inning with a mammoth 113.6-mph, 440-foot blast off Andrew Abbott. It was his ninth career home run at Great American Ball Park, his favorite park to hit homers in behind Wrigley Field (66) and Busch Stadium (12). Contreras may finally be settling into his new home in St. Louis as he has hit .268 with seven home runs, 13 runs and 18 RBI over 93 at-bats since Aug. 1.
Sep 7 2023Contreras is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Andrew Knizner will start at catcher and bat eighth as the Cardinals aim to pull off a surprising three-game sweep of the runaway NL East leaders. Contreras went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in Wednesday night's 11-6 victory.
Sep 3 2023Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will get a well-deserved day off after catching both of the past two days and starting behind the plate or at designated hitter in each of the Cardinals' last 15 games. Andrew Knizner will handle the catching duties in Sunday's series finale.
Sep 1 2023Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-2 extra-inning loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras recorded a single in the bottom of the second inning before taking Mitch Keller deep for a game-tying solo homer in the bottom of the sixth. The long-ball was his 16th of the season and third over the last three games.Contreras has produced a .280 average with five homers, 15 RBI, 11 runs scored and a stolen base over 82 at-bats in 24 games since the beginning of August.
Aug 29 2023Contreras went 2-for-4 with two homers, three RBI and a third run scored in Tuesday's victory over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras cut the Cardinals' deficit to 4-3 with a solo homer off Seth Lugo in the sixth inning before tying the game in the eighth with a two-run blast off of Robert Suarez. The 31-year-old Contreras had gone 13 games without a homer prior to Tuesday's contest, batting just .186 (8-for-43) in that span. Overall, he's slashing .253/.348/.436 with 15 homers, 54 RBI, 46 runs scored and six stolen bases through 442 at-bats this season.
Aug 22 2023Contreras was ejected from Tuesday's game against the Pirates after arguing about the strike zone, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras struck out swinging to end the top of the seventh inning with the bases loaded, though he appeared to be upset about a call earlier in the at-bat. Andrew Knizner took over behind the dish in his place.
Aug 17 2023Contreras (hip) is starting at designated hitter and batting cleanup versus the Mets on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras left Monday's game early with hip tightness after injuring himself while tagging up from first to second base, and he was out of the lineup the past two days. He is slashing .378/.472/.630 with six home runs over his last 119 at-bats.
Aug 16 2023Contreras, who is out of Wednesday's lineup against the A's due to hip tightness, is feeling better and could be available off the bench, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old is out of the starting nine for the second straight game due to the hip issue, but it sounds like he could make an appearance as a reserve. The Cardinals open a four-game series with the Mets on Thursday, and Contreras' reported improvement is an encouraging development ahead of the series opener.
Aug 15 2023Contreras (hip) is out of the lineup Tuesday versus the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras made an early exit from Monday's series opener due to right hip tightness and will take at least one full day off for rest and treatment. Andrew Knizner is starting at catcher and batting seventh for the host Cardinals.
Aug 14 2023Contreras left Monday's game against Oakland with right hip tightness, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had a noticeable limp on his way off the field, and he'll be considered day-to-day until the team sends him for additional testing. Andrew Knizner would be in line for more opportunities behind the plate if Contreras is forced to miss time.
Aug 12 2023Contreras went 3-for-3 with one double, a home run, a walk, five RBI and two runs scored in Friday's loss against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras' three-run double put the Cardinals on the board in the third and his two-run homer in the ninth served as the final runs the Cards would score on the night. Following reaching base in 35 of his 64 plate appearances in July, Contreras has remained hot in August with a .370 average to go along with two home runs and eight RBIs.
Aug 10 2023Contreras is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This looks to be a routine day of rest for Contreras, who has slashed .394/.482/.662 with four homers and seven doubles over his last 23 games (85 plate appearances) dating back to July 3. Andrew Knizner is catching and Nolan Arenado is serving as the Cardinals' designated hitter. Taylor Motter will play third base.
Aug 9 2023Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras cut the Cardinals' deficit to 4-2 in the ninth inning with a solo homer off Tampa Bay closer Pete Fairbanks on the 11th pitch of the at-bat. Contreras is now 14-for-39 (.359) over his last 15 games with a .960 OPS, though the home run was his first since July 14. Overall, the 31-year-old catcher is slashing .252/.346/.432 with 12 homers, 43 RBI, 40 runs scored and six steals across 379 plate appearances this season.
Aug 6 2023Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 2-for-7 with a double, two RBI and a run across the first two games against the Rockies and will take a seat for Sunday's series finale. Andrew Knizner is starting behind the plate and batting eighth.
Aug 3 2023Contreras is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started the first two games of the series versus Minnesota and went 2-for-4 with a stolen base Wednesday, but he'll take a seat for Thursday's finale. Andrew Knizner will step in behind the plate to catch for Matthew Liberatore.
Jul 30 2023Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has a .947 OPS in 11 games since the All-Star break and will take a seat for Sunday's series finale versus Chicago. Andrew Knizner will step in behind the plate to catch for Steven Matz.
Jul 28 2023Contreras (head) will serve as the Cardinals' designated hitter Friday against the Cubs, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Although it doesn't seem Contreras is quite ready to get back behind the plate after getting hit in the head Thursday by Ian Happ's backswing, the Cardinals will keep his bat in the lineup. Andrew Knizner will start at catcher Friday and bat eighth.
Jul 27 2023Contreras (head) is expected to be in the lineup Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras exited Thursday's game against the Cubs after being hit in the head by the backswing of Ian Happ. He passed a concussion test and his headaches have dissipated, clearing the path to his return to the lineup with a more protective mask.
Jul 26 2023Contreras is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras returned to action Tuesday after missing two games with a hip issue, but he'll take a seat Wednesday for the day game after a night game. Andrew Knizner will catch for starting pitcher Jack Flaherty.
Jul 25 2023Contreras went 2-for-4 in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras missed a couple of games while tending to right hip tightness. He was the only Cardinal to log multiple hits in this contest, though they had just five as a team. The catcher is batting .442 (19-for-43) in July, a surge that has him up to a .248/.343/.429 slash line with 11 home runs, 40 RBI, 37 runs scored and five stolen bases through 87 games overall.
Jul 24 2023Contreras (hip) isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals will give the backstop another day to recover from a right hip issue that has held him out since Saturday. Andrew Knizner draws the start behind the dish and will bat ninth.
Jul 23 2023Contreras (hip) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old exited Saturday's contest with right hip discomfort and will be held out of the starting nine for at least one game. Ivan Herrera will take over behind the plate Sunday with Contreras banged up.
Jul 22 2023Contreras was pulled from Saturday's game against the Cubs due to right hip tightness, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras hit a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning and an RBI double in the top of the fifth before getting replaced at catcher by Ivan Herrera to begin the bottom of the sixth. Contreras can be considered day-to-day until the Cardinals provide further information on the hip issue.
Jul 19 2023Contreras is out of the lineupWednesday versus the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras is on the bench for the third time in five games after he went 0-for-7 with a walk and four strikeouts over the first two contests of the series. Ivan Herrera will draw the start at catcher and bat sixth as St. Louis goes for the series sweep over Miami.
Jul 16 2023Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has collected multiple hits in four of his last five games and is slashing .514/.600/.919 over his last 11 contests. The Cardinals are now carrying three catchers with Andrew Knizner (groin) back from the injured list, but Contreras seems to have regained his confidence and should have the clear edge in terms of playing time down the stretch.
Jul 15 2023Contreras isn't in the Cardinals' lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Washington, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After a 2-for-4 performance that included a home run during Game 1 of Saturday's activities, Contreras will take a seat for the nightcap. Ivan Herrera will take over behind the dish and bat ninth.
Jul 9 2023Contreras went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras missed two games while recovering from a tooth procedure and made a big impact in his return. After a tumultous first three months in his Cardinals tenure went 11-for-17 (.647) over his last five contests heading into the All-Star break. The surge has him up to a respectable .240/.334/.419 slash line with 10 homers, 36 RBI, 35 runs scored, five stolen bases and 20 doubles through 79 contests overall.
Jul 8 2023Contreras isn't in the Cardinals' lineup Saturday against the White Sox, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras underwent a tooth procedure that caused him to miss Friday's game, and he'll remain out of Saturday's lineup. Ivan Herrera will once again fill in behind the dish and bat eighth.
Jul 7 2023Contreras will sit Friday versus the White Sox, Bally Sports Midwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will get a breather after he went 9-for-15 with a homer, four doubles, three RBI and four runs scored while starting all four games of the team's series with Miami. Ivan Herrera will take over behind the plate and bat eighth in the series opener with Chicago.
Jul 6 2023Contreras went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 10-9 loss to the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has rattled off three straight multi-hit efforts, going 8-for-12 with three doubles and a home run in that short span. The catcher has shown brief flashes of breaking out at times this season, but his valleys in production have tended to be much longer than his peaks. For the season, he's at a .234/.324/.401 slash line with nine home runs, 34 RBI, 34 runs scored, 19 doubles and five stolen bases through 77 contests. Contreras may actually face more of a challenge for playing time while Andrew Knizner (groin) is out, as prospect Ivan Herrera will need some at-bats while in the big leagues.
Jul 3 2023Contreras went 3-for-4 with a solo homer, a double, two runs scored and a walk in Monday's loss to Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras' ninth long ball of the year was a solo shot in the sixth inning. It was his first home run since June 16 and he appears to be turning a corner; he's collected at least three hits in three of his last nine games. Still, Contreras is slashing .222/.314/.387 with 26 extra-base hits through 75 games on the year.
Jul 2 2023Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras sat for Game 1 of Saturday's twin bill and is back out of the starting nine for Sunday's series finale. He's 2-for-12 in four games since he went 4-for-4 against the Cubs on June 25 in London. Andrew Knizner will step in behind the plate to catch for Jordan Montgomery.
Jul 1 2023Contreras is not in the lineup for the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Unsurprisingly, the Cardinals won't ask Contreras to catch two games in one day. Andrew Knizner starts behind the plate for the first game of the day, but Contreras will presumably return to the lineup for the nightcap.
Jun 25 2023Contreras went 4-for-4 with one double and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 0-for-4 against the Cubs during Saturday's loss, but he bounced back Sunday and notched his first four-hit game of the season against his former team. It's been a struggle for the 31-year-old backstop during his first season with St. Louis, and even after his big offensive day in London, he's still slashing just .216/.304/.372 across 70 games (283 plate appearances).
Jun 21 2023Contreras went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras tallied RBI in the fifth and seventh innings while notching his first three-hit game of the season and his first game with multiple extra-base hits since May 18. The 31-year-old now has six hits in his last four games but is still trying to turn things around at the plate. For the year he's now slashing .210/.303/.370 with eight homers, 31 RBI, 28 runs and a 27:62 BB:K over 271 plate appearances.
Jun 18 2023Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started the first two games in New York but will take a seat for the finale after going 2-for-7 with a solo home run. Andrew Knizner will step in behind the plate and bat eighth.
Jun 17 2023Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-1 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He spoiled New York's shutout bid by taking Tylor Megill deep in the fifth inning, but not much else went right for St. Louis in this one. Contreras had gone just 3-for-30 to begin June, and the multi-hit performance was his first since May 18. The veteran catcher does have eight homers and five steals in 64 games this season, but his .204/.296/.363 slash line has him on pace for career-worst numbers in all three categories.
Jun 14 2023Contreras is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will effectively get two days to rest up, as the Cardinals are off the schedule Thursday before returning to action Friday versus the Mets. Andrew Knizner will step in behind the dish in place of Contreras, who went 0-for-9 with three walks and two runs while starting at catcher in each of St. Louis' previous three contests.
Jun 10 2023Contreras will sit Saturday against Cincinnati, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has seemingly fully re-earned the Cardinals' trust, as he started eight of the last nine games behind the plate heading into Saturday's contest. He's slumped at the plate for the last several weeks, however, grabbing just five hits in his last 16 games, slashing .088/.175/.193 over that stretch. Andrew Knizner will be the Cardinals' catcher on Saturday.
Jun 7 2023Contreras went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras took Dane Dunning deep to left center for his second home run in three games. Though he's found some power in his swing lately, Contreras has just four hits total over his last 14 games dating back to May 19, and for the year, he's slashing just .213/.299/.372 with seven homers, 27 RBI, 24 runs and a 24:55 BB:K over 234 plate appearances.
Jun 5 2023Contreras went 0-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras got aboard on an error in the second inning, stole third and scored on a Paul DeJong single. Over his last 11 games, Contreras has gone an awful 2-for-40, though one of those hits was a home run. The prolonged slump has him down to a .211/.296/.358 slash line with five steals, six homers, 26 RBI and 23 runs scored through 56 contests. He could begin to cede some playing time to Andrew Knizner if he can't get his bat going again.
Jun 4 2023Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had started behind the dish in each of the Cardinals' last four games, so he'll be getting a breather Sunday with the series finale beginning at 11:35 a.m. ET. Andrew Knizner will step in as St. Louis' starting catcher, working in a battery with Miles Mikolas.
May 28 2023Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has struggled mightily at the plate as of late, as he hasn't picked up a hit since May 20. He'll get a chance to rest against Cleveland on Sunday with Andrew Knizner handling catching duties and hitting ninth.
May 21 2023Contreras went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has gone 5-for-24 (.208) with two homers, seven RBI and two steals in six games since he returned to being the primary catcher. He's now slashing .250/.333/.415 with four steals, five homers, 26 RBI and 21 runs scored through 45 contests this year. He's hit well enough to maintain a spot in the middle of the order.
May 18 2023Contreras went 2-for-5 with two homers and six RBI in Thursday's 16-8 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras opened the scoring for the Cardinals with a three-run shot in the third inning. Then he provided insurance with another three-run homer in the eighth. It was the catcher's second multi-homer game of the season, as he has gone deep in just three different games this season. He has a solid .772 OPS thanks to a .256 average and 12 doubles. He also ranks second among catchers with three stolen bases in 2023.
May 17 2023Contreras went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks and a stolen base in Tuesday's loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras drew multiple walks for the first time since April 23 and notched his third extra-base hit over his last five games with a double in the ninth. He wound up stealing second after walking in the fifth for his first stolen bag since April 17. He's put up pretty standard numbers at the plate thus far, slashing .252/.343/.395 with three homers, 18 RBI, 19 runs and a 20:35 BB:K over 169 plate appearances.
May 15 2023Contreras is starting at catcher and batting fifth Monday versus the Brewers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As expected, Contreras is starting at catcher for the first time since May 4 following a run at designated hitter while the team asked him to work on his defense. He'll be tasked with helping to coax better results out of right-hander Jack Flaherty, who brings a 6.18 ERA into his start Monday.
May 13 2023Contreras will be back behind the plate Monday to catch Jack Flaherty against the Brewers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals publicly criticized Contreras' catching last week and moved him to the designated hitter spot for an unclear amount of time while he worked on his defense. He's evidently shown enough improvement already that the team is comfortable returning him to his natural position. The Cardinals have allowed 5.4 runs per game since moving Contreras out from behind the plate, up from 5.1 runs per game prior to that point, so it's not clear that the decision had the desired effect.
May 12 2023Contreras went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 8-6 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had gone 19 games without a homer, hitting. 275 with six doubles and nine RBI in that span. His long ball Friday helped spark the Cardinals' rally in the sixth inning. He's slashing .263/.340/.406 with three homers, 18 RBI, 18 runs scored, two stolen bases and 10 doubles over 37 contests this season.
May 8 2023Contreras went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Monday's win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Making his return to Wrigley Field, Contreras knocked in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning with an RBI double and brought home an insurance run in the eighth. He has multiple hits in four of his last eight games, going 10-for-34 (.294) during that stretch. Contreras improved his season slash line to .273/346/.405 with 12 extra-base hits and 16 RBI through 136 plate appearances.
May 6 2023Contreras will spend most of his time in the outfield or at designated hitter over the next couple of weeks, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has been seen as a bat-first catcher throughout his career, but to see the Cardinals go from giving him five years and $87.5 million over the winter to not trusting him at all behind the plate a little over a month into his first season is quite a surprise. His framing numbers have been sub-par this season, but presumably that's not a shock to St. Louis, as that's nothing new. It remains to be seen how often he'll play until he regains his team's trust as a catcher, since the Cardinals already have a depth chart crunch in the corner outfield and at designated hitter. Expect Andrew Knizner to see an uptick in playing time behind the plate in the meantime.
Apr 27 2023Contreras is not in the starting lineup Thursday at San Francisco. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This would appear to be a routine breather for Contreras as the Cardinals wrap up a four-game set at Oracle Park. He started the previous 10 games, with eight of those starts coming behind the plate. Andrew Knizner is catching and batting eighth Thursday. Nolan Gorman is serving as the designated hitter and hitting third.
Apr 5 2023Contreras is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras gets the day game off with Andrew Knizner getting the start behind the dish and hitting ninth. The veteran backstop had an injury scare early in the campaign, but he has picked up six hits in his first 17 at-bats as a member of the Cardinals.
Apr 3 2023Contreras (knee) went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's 9-4 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras looked to be in considerable pain and potentially headed for a trip to the injured list after taking a 102.7 mile-per-hour pitch to his right knee in Thursday's season opener, but he ended up missing just one game. He was back behind the plate Sunday and caught all nine innings while producing on the offensive end, alleviating any concern fantasy managers may have had about his status heading into the Cardinals' upcoming six-game week.
Apr 2 2023Contreras (knee) is starting at catcher and batting fifth Sunday against the Blue Jays, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old sat out Saturday's matchup with Toronto after he suffered the knee injury during Thursday's season opener, but he was diagnosed with a bruise after being evaluated and will miss only one contest. Contreras made a strong impression in his debut with the Cardinals prior to the injury, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Apr 1 2023Contreras (knee) will not start Saturday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was hit in the knee by a Jordan Hicks fastball while catching the flamethrower on Opening Day. X-rays and an MRI didn't turn up anything worse than a bruise, but he'll nonetheless sit for at least one game. Andrew Knizner takes over behind the plate. Per Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, Contreras is available to pinch hit and hopes to return to the lineup Sunday.
Mar 31 2023Contreras is considered day-to-day with a right knee contusion after undergoing multiple tests. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: X-rays and an MRI both came back clean and Contreras went through additional testing Friday, none of which revealed anything beyond a bruise. The catcher is surely still sore after taking a 102.7 mph Jordan Hicks fastball off the shin guard, but he could be back in action sometime this weekend.
Mar 30 2023Contreras will have an MRI on his right knee, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was forced to exit Thursday's game with a right knee contusion. X-rays came back negative, but he will still undergo additional testing. It appears as if Contreras has dodged a serious injury, though his timeline for a return should become clearer in the next day or so.
Mar 13 2023Contreras is hitting .250 with one double, one RBI and six strikeouts over six Grapefruit League games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras stayed in camp rather than going to the World Baseball Classic to get to know the pitcher on his new team. The catcher signed a five-year deal in December to become the Cardinals' new No. 1 backstop after the retirement of Yadier Molina. Contreras won't enjoy the friendly confines of Wrigley Field as often as he used to, but he's a four-time 20-homer hitter and should continue to return solid numbers at a position where those are scarce.
Dec 9 2022Contreras' signing of a five-year, $87.5 million contract with a $17.5 million club option for 2028 with the Cardinals was formally announced by the team Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The deal was first reported Wednesday and made official accompanied with a press conference Friday. Contreras has big shoes to fill in replacing future Hall of Famer Yadier Molina, whose 19-year reign as the Cards' catcher has come to an end following retirement. There will undoubtedly be a downgrade defensively, especially in the framing department where Contreras is lacking. It's difficult to overstate how much more offense Contreras is likely to bring, though. His OPS over the last four seasons sits at .816, a number Molina reached twice in his career and not since 2013. There will be a ballpark downgrade for Contreras, although Busch Stadium is more favorable for right-handed batters than it is lefties.
Dec 7 2022Contreras and the Cardinals agreed Wednesday on a five-year, $87.5 million contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In bringing aboard Contreras, St. Louis has found a replacement for longtime catcher Yadier Molina, who retired following the 2022 campaign after 19 seasons with the Cardinals. With Molina's production having waned in recent years, the 30-year-old Contreras will provide a major upgrade at the position, particularly on the offensive end. Over the past two seasons, Contreras' 121 wRC+ ranks third among all catchers who have logged at least 500 plate appearances over that stretch. While joining a strong Cardinals lineup that includes Nolan Arenado and reigning National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt in the heart of the order, Contreras should have a good chance at improving upon the run and RBI totals he logged with sub-.500 Cubs teams both of the last two years.
Nov 8 2022Contreras declined the Cubs' $19.65 million qualifying offer and became a free agent Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras slashed .243/.349/.466 in 2022 -- a very good individual season -- but he will now join the list of star players to depart from Chicago in the last couple of years as the Cubs enter a rebuild. Contreras is known as a great two-way catcher and should garner plenty of interest from teams looking to add a high-quality piece to their lineup.
Oct 5 2022Contreras isn't starting Wednesday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a strikeout Tuesday against Cincinnati, and he'll retreat to the bench for Wednesday's season finale. P.J. Higgins is starting behind the plate and batting seventh.
Oct 4 2022Contreras went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras is now up to 22 home runs with one more game on the schedule Wednesday. If the catcher plays in the afternoon contest, he'll need two long balls to tie his career high of 24, set back in 2019. Either way, it's been a solid season for Contreras, as the veteran has an .815 OPS across 113 games. It'll be his first OPS above .800 since that 2019 campaign, when he finished with a career-best .888 mark.
Oct 3 2022Contreras isn't in the lineup Monday against Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started the last two games and went 0-for-6 with a run and two walks. He'll get a breather while Yan Gomes starts behind the dish and bats eighth.
Sep 30 2022Contreras is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will take a seat after he went 2-for-12 with a double and four strikeouts over the three-game series with the Phillies. Yan Gomes will take over behind the plate and bat seventh in the series opener.
Sep 29 2022Contreras will start at catcher in Thursday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras served as the designated hitter in the first two games he appeared in after being activated from the injured list Tuesday, but he will be back behind the plate Thursday afternoon. The Cubs' regular leadoff hitter of late, Zach McKinstry, is not in Thursday's lineup, and Contreras will replace him atop the order.
Sep 27 2022Contreras (ankle) was activated from the injured list Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras just resumed full baseball activities Friday, and the Cubs did not have a target date for his return at that point. However, they did not need to see much before adding him back to the active roster. It's unclear if Contreras will handle an everyday role right away, but fantasy players can plan on having him available for the homestretch.
Sep 23 2022Contreras (ankle) resumed full activities Friday but there is still no return date in mind for him, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has been held out of action since the end of August due to issues with his left ankle. It sounds like he's beginning to feel better, but with the end of the season fast approaching and the Cubs sitting well outside the postseason race, there doesn't seem to be much urgency to rush the star catcher back into the lineup.
Sep 16 2022Contreras (ankle) recently began doing light agility work in his running progression, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has been on the injured list with a left ankle sprain since Sept. 6 and will spend more than the minimum of 10 days on the shelf. While the catcher seems to be trending in the right direction, manager David Ross said Friday that Contreras is still progressing relatively slowly and is likely about a week away from returning, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Sep 8 2022Contreras (ankle) underwent an MRI on Wednesday that didn't reveal anything too concerning, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras' test results were consistent with an ankle sprain, and he's expected to rest for a few days prior to resuming baseball activities. It's possible the 30-year-old spends more than the minimum of 10 days on the injured list, but it doesn't appear as though he's dealing with a particularly significant injury.
Sep 7 2022Contreras is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his injured left ankle Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs placed Contreras on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, but the extent of his left ankle injury isn't yet known. The MRI should shed more light on the matter, and once the results are available, the Cubs will have a better idea regarding whether he'll be able to return from the IL when first eligible Sept. 13. Yan Gomes is expected to serve as the Cubs' No. 1 catcher in the interim.
Sep 6 2022Contreras (ankle) was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sept. 3, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was not ready to start following a team off day Monday, so the Cubs decided to deactivate him and open up a roster spot. Yan Gomes will presumably serve as the Cubs' regular catcher until Contreras returns.
Sep 4 2022Contreras (ankle) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will be on the bench for a fourth consecutive game while he nurses a a sore left ankle. No. 3 backstop P.J. Higgins will get a turn behind the plate Sunday after Yan Gomes caught the Cubs' previous three contests.
Sep 3 2022Contreras (ankle) isn't starting Saturday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was removed from Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays due to left ankle soreness and will be out of the lineup for a third consecutive matchup. Whether he's available off the bench remains to be seen, but Yan Gomes will start at catcher and bat seventh.
Sep 2 2022Contreras (ankle) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old will sit for a second straight game after exiting Tuesday's contest with left ankle soreness. Contreras was cleared of any serious issues after he underwent X-rays and an MRI on Wednesday, but he'll still require some additional time off after Chicago's scheduled day off Thursday. Yan Gomes will work behind the plate in Contreras' place in the series opener at St. Louis.
Aug 31 2022Contreras (ankle), who is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Blue Jays, had X-rays come back negative and was cleared of structural damage after undergoing an MRI, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old exited Tuesday's contest due to the ankle soreness he's been battling over the past week-plus, and it appears he'll continue to play through the injury since there's no serious concerns. According to manager David Ross the team will "look out for him and his career and his long-term health," though the skipper also said Contreras is "a baseball player and likes to play baseball." Contreras' playing time could be managed down the stretch if the ankle continues to bother him.
Aug 30 2022Contreras was removed from Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays with left ankle soreness, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old went 1-for-2 with a solo home run before being replaced by a pinch hitter during the sixth inning due to the lingering ankle issue. Contreras missed four games last week with the injury, and he's not fully healthy despite returning to action over the past few days. He'll receive treatment Wednesday and be re-evaluated to determine his availability for the series finale in Toronto.
Aug 28 2022Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras looks to be healthy again after a recent four-game absence due to an ankle sprain, but he'll give way to Yan Gomes behind the dish for the series finale in Milwaukee. After returning from the injury Friday, Contreras picked up two straight starts at catcher and went 0-for-8 with five strikeouts.
Aug 26 2022Contreras (ankle) is starting behind the plate and batting second Friday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras hasn't seen the field since Monday due to a left ankle sprain, but he'll rejoin the lineup for Friday's series opener in Milwaukee. Through 16 games in August, the 30-year-old has a .230/.310/.574 slash line with six home runs, 14 RBI and 10 runs scored.
Aug 25 2022Contreras (ankle) is out of the starting lineup Thursday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will miss a fourth consecutive game due to a left ankle sprain, but the Cubs don't view it as a major concern, as manager David Ross said he expects the 30-year-old backstop to be back in the starting nine Friday against the Brewers, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. P.J. Higgins will remain in the lineup at catcher and bat sixth Thursday.
Aug 24 2022Contreras (ankle) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old didn't see the field during Tuesday's twin bill due to left ankle stiffness, and he won't rejoin Chicago's starting nine Wednesday. Contreras has been playing through the issue the past couple weeks, and he's now being forced to miss some time after aggravating the injury last week.
Aug 23 2022Contreras is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cardinals due to left ankle stiffness, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was held out of the lineup for Chicago's victory in Game 1 after waking up with the stiffness, and he's expected to be available off the bench in the nightcap. The 30-year-old initially suffered the injury during the Field of Dreams Game against the Reds on Aug. 11 and aggravated the issue last week versus the Orioles on a play at the plate. P.J. Higgins will start at catcher in Game 2 for the Cubs.
Aug 21 2022Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll be getting some routine maintenance after going 4-for-11 with three home runs, two walks and six RBI while catching each of the past three contests. Yan Gomes will spell Contreras behind the dish.
Aug 18 2022Contreras went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs Thursday against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras accounted for the majority of Chicago's offense, going yard in the sixth and eighth innings. He now has 19 home runs for the season, five of which have come since Aug. 4. In that 12-game span, Contreras has also chipped in 10 RBI and nine runs scored. For the campaign, he has maintained a .249/.358/.472 line across 433 plate appearances.
Aug 17 2022Contreras isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 0-for-9 with a run, an RBI and four strikeouts over the last two games and will take a seat for Wednesday's series finale in Washington. Yan Gomes is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.
Aug 14 2022Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started the first two games against Cincinnati but will get the series finale off. Yan Gomes will do the catching Sunday, with Franmil Reyes slotting in as the DH. Contreras has had another good season behind the plate, supplying an .831 OPS and 17 home runs across 96 games so far.
Aug 10 2022Contreras isn't starting Wednesday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras is getting a rare day off after he hit .250 with a home run, five RBI, two runs and a stolen base over the last five games. Yan Gomes will start behind the plate and bat seventh.
Aug 5 2022Contreras went 2-for-8 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and two runs scored across both games of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras did his damage early in the matinee, taking St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas deep in the first inning. The catcher, who perhaps surprisingly didn't leave Chicago before the trade deadline, now has 15 home runs and an .835 OPS this season. He should be primed for a strong finish to the year in a familiar environment, though the 41-63 Cubs may opt to mix in some rest days.
Jul 24 2022Contreras is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will get a breather after he went 3-for-7 with a homer, two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in the first two contests of the series. Yan Gomes will draw the start at catcher and bat seventh in the series finale.
Jul 23 2022Contreras went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, a solo home run and two runs scored in Friday's 15-2 win over the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had two of the Cubs' 19 hits in the easy win. The catcher now has 14 home runs, which is second on the team to Patrick Wisdom, to go along with a solid .843 OPS. With Chicago sitting at just 36-57, the veteran Contreras remains a likely trade candidate before the upcoming deadline. The Cubs moved all of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez before the deadline last year, leaving Contreras, Jason Heyward and Kyle Hendricks as the lone remaining players from the 2016 championship squad.
Jul 16 2022Contreras will be on the bench for the second half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in the first game of the day. He may not have many games left in a Cubs uniform, as he's on an expiring contract and could be traded to a playoff contender.
Jul 9 2022Contreras (hamstring) went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras missed four games with a tight left hamstring, and it appears his timing was a bit off in his return. The 30-year-old could continue to see some time as the designated hitter as he works back to full strength. He hit .333 with a home run, four doubles, seven RBI and six runs scored in 10 games prior to his injury, so it shouldn't take the catcher long to regain his momentum at the plate.
Jul 8 2022Contreras (hamstring) isn't starting Friday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras continues to deal with a tight left hamstring and will be excluded from the lineup for a fourth consecutive game. David Bote is serving as the designated hitter and batting ninth.
Jul 7 2022Contreras (hamstring) isn't starting Thursday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras worked on the field prior to Thursday's matchup and remains day-to-day, but he'll be held out of the lineup for a third consecutive game due to left hamstring tightness. Rafael Ortega is serving as the designated hitter while Andrelton Simmons enters the lineup at second base.
Jul 6 2022Contreras (hamstring) isn't starting Wednesday against Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has been dealing with left hamstring tightness since Monday, and he'll be out of the lineup for a second consecutive game while he continues to receive treatment. Ian Happ is serving as the designated hitter while P.J. Higgins starts behind the plate.
Jul 5 2022Contreras (hamstring) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Milwaukee, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras exited Monday's loss with left hamstring tightness, and it's unclear how long he'll be sidelined. With Conteras out for at least one game, Yan Gomes will catch Tuesday while Rafael Ortega serves as the Cubs' designated hitter.
Jul 4 2022Contreras was removed in the 10th inning of Monday's loss against the Brewers due to hamstring tightness, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was curiously replaced in extra innings, but manager David Ross explained after the game that the backstop was pulled due to the injury. He'll be considered day-to-day and figures to be re-evaluated Tuesday morning.
Jun 29 2022Contreras went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a two-run home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was electric in this one, and he now has three straight multi-hit games. It was the backstop's third three-hit effort in June, pushing his batting average this month to .295. He also has five home runs and 16 RBI across 25 games in June. Contreras has been a fantasy bright spot in Chicago and is certainly enhancing his trade value before the deadline next month.
Jun 28 2022Contreras went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras extended his hitting streak to four games and is now batting .272 for the season with a solid .881 OPS. The Chicago backstop is likely headed toward his third All-Star Game selection this season. Contreras has been a bright spot for the 28-46 Cubs, and he remains a key trade candidate before the deadline due to his expiring contract.
Jun 26 2022Contreras went 2-for-5 with three RBI in a 6-5 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras continued his excellent first half with a three-RBI performance to give him 31 total on the year. His two-RBI single in the fourth tied the game at 5-5, and then he put the Cubs ahead for good with an RBI-single in the 10th inning. The Cubs' starting catcher was playing DH in this day game, as manager David Ross likes to keep Contreras' dependable bat in the lineup any way possible. Conteras has five home runs and is slugging .426 over the past 15 days.
Jun 18 2022Contreras went 3-for-5 with a double, a steal, a run and an RBI Saturday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was Contreras' third steal of the season, which ties him with Keibert Ruiz for fourth among all catchers -- J.T. Realmuto has eight while Daulton Varsho and Christian Bethancourt have four apiece. Contreras is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak.
Jun 14 2022Contreras went 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs, three runs scored and three RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started the game with a bang, taking San Diego starter Sean Manaea deep in the first inning with the bases empty. The Chicago catcher then went deep again off Manaea two innings later with a runner on. Contreras now has 12 home runs this season, which is tied for the team lead with Patrick Wisdom. He also has a superb .949 OPS, and he should remain a top fantasy option behind the plate, though he could get moved to a new team before the trade deadline.
Jun 9 2022Contreras and the Cubs agreed to a one-year, $9.625 million contract for the 2022 season Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The two parties were slated to have an arbitration hearing Thursday, but Contreras landed a new deal shortly before the deadline. The 30-year-old has been productive early in the season, slashing .277/.403/.530 with 10 homers, 35 runs, 23 RBI and two stolen bases over 47 games. He's slated to become a free agent during the offseason but is a candidate to be traded by the rebuilding Cubs this summer if he doesn't reach a long-term agreement with the team.
Jun 4 2022Contreras (ankle) is starting the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was out of the lineup for Thursday's matchup against St. Louis, but he was available off the bench if needed. However, he'll start behind the dish and bat second during Saturday's matinee. The 30-year-old is riding an eight-game hitting streak, and he's slashed .367/.486/.833 with four homers, two doubles, eight runs, seven RBI and a stolen base during that time.
Jun 3 2022Contreras (ankle), who isn't starting Friday against the Cardinals, will be available off the bench if needed, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old was hit by a pitch above his left ankle Thursday, but manager David Ross said that the backstop's absence from Friday's lineup is a scheduled day off. Even if Contreras doesn't appear off the bench Friday, Ross is confident that the catcher will be back in the lineup Saturday. P.J. Higgins will start behind the plate and bat seventh Friday.
Jun 2 2022Contreras exited Thursday's game against the Cardinals after being hit by a pitch in the ankle, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: X-rays showed no structural damage, so Contreras can be considered day-to-day for the time being. The Cubs have a short turnaround before a day game on Friday, so it's likely that Contreras won't be in the lineup. P.J. Higgins would take over as the primary catcher if Contreras is in for a lengthy absence, as Yan Gomes (oblique) is also sidelined.
Jun 1 2022Contreras went 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base in Monday's 4-3 victory against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras helped the Cubs get off to a strong start in the contest, knocking a single in the first inning and succeeding on a double steal with Christopher Morel. The backstop moved to third on an error and came around to score on a double play. Contreras later knocked in a run in the fifth inning with a single to right field. This was his third straight two-hit performance and his seventh consecutive contest with at least one base knock. Over that stretch, he is batting .370 (10-for-27) with three homers, five RBI and seven runs.
May 31 2022Contreras went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Tuesday's win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras continued his good recent stretch of games, as he's now batting .346 over his past eight contests with three home runs, four RBI and six runs scored. Overall, the catcher has a solid .907 OPS, which would represent a new career high if it holds up. His previous best in that category was the .888 OPS he recorded in 2019, which is also when he blasted a career-high 24 home runs. Contreras has eight home runs through 41 games this year.
May 30 2022Contreras went 2-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in a 3-1 loss to the Brewers in the second game of Monday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras accounted for the Cubs' lone run in the fourth inning, taking Brewers starter Aaron Ashby deep. In the matinee, Contreras went 1-for-5 with a run scored as the designated hitter. The 30-year-old catcher has been solid in 2022 with a .264/.387/.486 slash line, seven homers, 16 RBI, 28 runs scored, a stolen base and eight doubles through 40 games.
May 26 2022Contreras went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs lost 20-5, and Contreras was replaced by P.J. Higgins in the eighth inning of the blowout, but he was still able to do a little damage. The Chicago backstop is up to six home runs on the season, with half of those coming in his past 12 games. Contreras also has a solid .869 OPS, as he's been a good fantasy contributor despite some of Chicago's struggles as a team.
May 25 2022Contreras (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras' strained right hamstring will keep him on the bench for the fourth straight game, but his health at least appears to be a lesser concern than that of fellow backstop Yan Gomes (oblique), who was placed on the 10-day injured list. The Cubs could consider deactivating Contreras if he doesn't show more improvement heading into the weekend, but for now, he's being viewed as day-to-day. P.J. Higgins will pick up the start behind the plate Wednesday.
May 24 2022Contreras (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs manager David Ross said Contreras is on track to avoid the 10-day injured list, but the star catcher will be on the bench for the third game in a row due to a right hamstring strain. P.J. Higgins will fill in for Contreras behind the dish Tuesday.
May 23 2022Contreras (hamstring) isn't starting Monday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras suffered a right hamstring strain during Saturday's loss to the Diamondbacks, and he's considered day-to-day. He isn't expected to require a trip to the injured list, per Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago. With Contreras out of the lineup for a second straight game, Yan Gomes will start behind the dish and bat fifth.
May 22 2022Contreras (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com, Contreras is considered day-to-day after straining his right hamstring in Saturday's 7-6 loss, but the Cubs had enough concern about the backstop's health to call up another catcher (P.J. Higgins) from Triple-A Iowa ahead of Sunday's series finale. Higgins will draw the start behind the plate in place of Contreras, who will hope to return at some point during the Cubs' upcoming four-game series in Cincinnati that begins Monday.
May 21 2022Contreras was removed from Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks due to right hamstring tightness, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started Saturday's game as the designated hitter and went 1-for-2 with a stolen base. While he singled and swiped a bag in the bottom of the third inning, he apparently tweaked something since Rafael Ortega took over as a pinch runner. The severity of the 30-year-old's injury isn't yet clear, but Yan Gomes should see increased work behind the dish if Contreras misses additional time.
May 16 2022Contreras went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Monday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Batting first for the Cubs, Contreras started the game with a double before later popping a grand slam in the same inning, and Chicago didn't look back in the 9-0 romp. It was just the 10th time since 1901 that a leadoff hitter recorded a grand slam in the first inning, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. The home run, which also happened to be the 100th of Contreras' career, was his fifth of the season and third in his past nine games, so he seems to be finding his power stroke. The catcher also has a strong .283 average and .906 OPS, and he should remain one of the top options at his position so long as he stays healthy.
May 11 2022Contreras went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and three runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has heated up this month, as he's now batting .458 in May with two home runs, three RBI and six runs scored. For the season, he's up to a robust .935 OPS with four total home runs, as he's been the Cubs' best offensive player. The Chicago catcher should remain a strong fantasy asset as long as he stays healthy.
May 9 2022Contreras went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Monday's win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All three hits were singles, but fantasy managers aren't complaining about the recent hot stretch by Contreras. He's gone 9-for-21 over his last six games, which has raised his batting average for the year to .279. If that holds up, it would be the highest mark for the catcher since he batted .282 during his 2016 rookie season.
May 8 2022Contreras went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs are scuffling at just 9-18, but Contreras has played well lately, going 6-for-17 across his last five games with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. He should remain a solid fantasy catcher, though run-producing opportunities may be somewhat limited moving forward if the team continues to struggle as a whole. As it stands, Contreras looks like Chicago's most proven offensive commodity at the moment.
May 7 2022Contreras went 3-for-4 with a triple, a solo home run and two runs scored in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was an effective leadoff hitter in Saturday's nightcap but the Cubs still fell 6-2 as they dropped both games in the doubleheader. Despite his team's struggles, the Chicago catcher is playing pretty well with an .820 OPS and three home runs across 20 games. Contreras could be a trade candidate, however, if the Cubs continue to fall out of contention, as he's in the last year of his contract.
May 4 2022Contreras (undisclosed) is starting Wednesday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras missed the last two games with an unspecified injury but will start behind the plate and bat fourth Wednesday. Over the three games prior to his absence, he went 2-for-9 with two walks and three strikeouts.
May 3 2022Contreras is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury but is available off the bench, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager David Ross mentioned Contreras' injury as the reason for his second consecutive absence Tuesday but declined to specify exactly what was wrong, citing "competitive" reasons. Yan Gomes will start behind the plate Tuesday, but the fact that Contreras is available off the bench suggests that he could be back in the lineup soon.
May 1 2022Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will head to the bench after starting the past nine games, and he hit .273/.385/.364 with three doubles, six walks, four RBI and six runs during that stretch. Yan Gomes will take over behind the plate in Sunday's series finale at Milwaukee.
Apr 23 2022Contreras went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double, three runs scored and three RBI in Saturday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was one of the engines in Chicago's easy 21-0 win Saturday. The catcher came into the contest with only three RBI this season, though he managed to double that number. He also pushed his OPS to .848, which would be the highest for Contreras since he recorded an .888 OPS back in 2019.
Apr 21 2022Contreras went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Thursday's loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Chicago mustered only four hits and three runs, making Contreras arguably their most effective hitter on the night. The catcher is now batting .237 this season, which was his final average last season, and his .815 OPS is a bit ahead of his .778 mark from 2021. Fantasy managers look to Contreras for some pop, as he supplied 21 home runs a season ago and a career-best 24 back in 2019. He has two long balls through 10 games this season.
Apr 20 2022Contreras isn't starting Wednesday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras drew starts in the last five games and hit .182 with a homer, two doubles, two runs and two RBI. Yan Gomes will start behind the dish and bat eighth Wednesday.
Apr 16 2022Contreras went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Friday's loss to the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras got a breather for Thursday's series opener, but he quickly took advantage of Coors Field on Friday. The Chicago catcher is off to a nice start, batting .389 with a 1.222 OPS through five games. He's only driven in two runs across those contests, but if Contreras keeps hitting like this, the counting stats should follow.
Apr 14 2022Contreras is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll sit for the second time in six games this season while Yan Gomes gets a turn behind the plate. Contreras turned in his best game of the season in Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Pirates, hitting a thunderous solo home run while coming around to score the Cubs' other run of the day after reaching base on a double.
Apr 13 2022Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and two runs in Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras opened the scoring in the contest, taking the Pirates starter Zach Thompson deep for a solo shot in the top of the first inning. He later ripped a ground-rule double off Thompson, narrowly missing an opportunity to leg out a three-bagger. The multi-hit effort was Contreras' first of the season as he added his first couple extra-base knocks of the 2022 campaign as well. Contreras continues to represent an elite fantasy option at the shallow catcher position.
Apr 10 2022Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started behind the plate the first two games of the season and will take the day off in the series finale against the Brewers. Yan Gomes will catch for Marcus Stroman on Sunday as both veterans make their debut in Chicago.
Apr 9 2022Contreras went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in a 9-0 win Saturday over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras walked and scored in the first and singled and scored in the sixth. The two-time All-Star was beaned on a 3-0 pitch by Brandon Woodruff in the fourth, the second consecutive game he's been hit by a Milwaukee pitcher. Barring a surprise extension, the 30-year-old is expected to reach free agency for the first time following the season. Since making his debut in 2016, Contreras has been one of the best catchers in baseball and he will likely receive a healthy payday if he puts up numbers similar to his career .806 OPS this year.
Mar 29 2022Contreras went 1-for-1 with a walk and a two-run home run in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras is only batting .222 this spring, though his 1.089 OPS is much more impressive. The veteran catcher did not reach a deal with the Cubs before the arbitration deadline earlier this month, so he will have a hearing coming up in the near future. Contreras is under team control through the end of 2022, though Chicago could of course trade him at some point during the season. For now, he profiles as the team's everyday backstop, with Yan Gomes serving in a reserve role.
Mar 14 2022Contreras will likely be one of several players that Chicago manager David Ross rotates into the designated hitter spot this season, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras missed a month last season with a knee injury and still finished seventh in the league in innings behind the plate, so his workload was certainly heavy while he was healthy. The Cubs will likely try to ease up on the 29-year-old a bit in 2022, and the DH spot will allow them to keep him fresher. Ian Happ (elbow), Clint Frazier and Nick Madrigal (hamstring) were also identified as likely DH candidates, and Ross figures to rotate players in and out of the role.
Mar 11 2022Contreras and the Cubs could work out a contract extension before the start of the regular season, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was one of the only veterans the Cubs didn't trade at the deadline last season, as Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo all got moved. Heading into the offseason, a Contreras extension was a hot topic, as 2022 is his last year under team control. The lockout put a pause on any negotiations, but with the luxury tax threshold going up in the new agreement, the Cubs might be willing and able to spend on their star catcher. If the sides can't reach a deal, Contreras will be a likely trade candidate this summer on his expiring contract.
Oct 3 2021The Cubs placed Contreras (hip) on the 10-day injured list Sunday, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Chicago called up Tyler Payne from Triple-A Iowa to provide catching depth behind starter Erick Castillo in Sunday's season finale in St. Louis. Though he'll close the campaign on the shelf, Contreras' inflamed right hip shouldn't provide any major complications during his offseason training program heading into 2022. Contreras remained one of the top fantasy options at catcher this season, batting .237 with 21 home runs, 61 runs, 57 RBI and five stolen bases across 483 plate appearances.
Oct 2 2021Contreras exited Saturday's game against the Cardinals with right hip tightness, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras exited in the third inning with the injury, though he walked and struck out in two plate appearances prior to the issue. Though there has been no official word, there is a strong possibility that Contreras will be forced to miss Sunday's season finale and that his 2021 campaign is complete. Erick Castillo took over behind the plate to replace Contreras.
Oct 1 2021Contreras isn't starting Friday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras returned to the lineup in each of the last two games and went 4-for-8 with two doubles, four RBI and two runs. Erick Castillo will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
Sep 29 2021Contreras went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to put the Cubs up 1-0. Then with Chicago down 2-1 in the seventh, the catcher doubled in two more runs to help snap his team's seven-game losing streak. Contreras has been locked in lately, as he's batting .310 across his last 10 games. The 29-year-old looks primed to finish the season on a positive note and turn his attention toward 2022, when he should again be one of the top fantasy options at his position.
Sep 28 2021Contreras isn't starting Tuesday's game against the Pirates due to wrist soreness, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Although Austin Romine is starting at catcher in Contreras' place Tuesday, the injury isn't considered serious. Manager David Ross said Tuesday that he's hopeful Contreras will be able to return to action Wednesday.
Sep 24 2021Contreras will sit for the second half of Friday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in the first game of the twin bill. He won't be asked to catch twice in one day, so he'll rest in the nightcap while Austin Romine starts behind the plate.
Sep 22 2021Contreras isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBI, a walk and a strikeout in Tuesday's loss to the Twins, but he'll retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Robinson Chirinos will start at catcher and bat sixth.
Sep 21 2021Contreras went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional RBI against Minnesota in a loss Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The backstop put Chicago on the board in the first inning with a sacrifice fly, and he gave the Cubs their first lead two innings later with a solo shot to left field. The homer was his 21st of the campaign, good for second among National League catchers behind Will Smith. Contreras has blasted three long balls in his past five games, going 5-for-16 with six RBI over that span.
Sep 19 2021Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 1-for-4 with a home run Saturday and is now hitting .206 with three home runs and seven RBI in his last 10 games. Austin Romine starts behind the dish and bats eighth Sunday.
Sep 16 2021Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Thursday's loss to the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras missed some time recently due to a knee injury, but he's still been able to reach 19 home runs in 115 games of action. If the catcher pops one more long ball down the stretch, he'll hit the 20-homer mark for the third time in his six-year MLB career. His career high is 24 home runs, which he recorded across just 105 games back in 2019. Contreras should have a few more chances to go deep this year, though the 66-81 Cubs will likely give him some rest days too as they turn their attention to 2022.
Sep 15 2021Contreras isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will get a breather after he went 3-for-17 with two runs, two RBI and two walks across his last five appearances. Robinson Chirinos will start behind the plate and bat fifth.
Sep 11 2021Contreras went 2-for-3 with two RBI in Saturday's loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras made his return from a knee injury a week ago and has been understandably rusty after missing nearly a month. The catcher came into Saturday's contest with just three hits in 19 at-bats since coming off the injured list, so it was good to see him string together multiple hits. With the Cubs sitting at 65-78 and outside the playoff picture, Contreras will likely receive plenty of rest days down the stretch as the team turns its attention to 2022.
Sep 7 2021Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Reds on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The homer was Contreras' first since July 29 and it came in his fourth game back from a knee injury. He was batting leadoff against a lefty, which should be expected to be the norm down the stretch. While it's been a disappointing season overall for Contreras, only Will Smith of the Dodgers has more home runs among NL catchers.
Sep 5 2021Contreras is not in the lineup Sunday against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run in his return from the injured list Saturday, and he'll head to the bench for the series finale. Robinson Chirinos will catch for Zach Davies and bat seventh Sunday.
Sep 4 2021Contreras went 0-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and two strikeouts in Saturday's 7-6 win over Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The catcher missed over three weeks with a right knee sprain, and he wasn't able to knock off the rust immediately. Contreras is still likely to serve as the Cubs' primary catcher for the final month of the season. He's slashing .224/.332/.414 with 17 home runs, 40 RBI, 49 runs scored and four stolen bases in 105 games.
Aug 31 2021Contreras (knee) reported to Triple-A Iowa to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras progressed to catching bullpen sessions and taking part in baserunning drills over the weekend, which were apparently some of the final hurdles before starting a rehab stint. The 29-year-old has been sidelined nearly three weeks by the knee sprain, and he should be able to rejoin the big-league club after a few appearances in the minors.
Aug 28 2021Contreras (knee) caught a bullpen session and participated in baserunning drills Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has been on the injured list for just over two weeks, but he's been increasing his activity level recently. Manager David Ross said the backstop is expected to begin a rehab assignment early next week, which would likely put him on track to return to the major-league club late in the week or over the weekend.
Aug 27 2021Contreras (knee) will likely require a rehab assignment before he's reinstated from the 10-day injured list, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has been going through his full pregame routine recently, but the Cubs will likely choose to give him at-bats in the minors before he rejoins the major-league club. He's unlikely to require many rehab appearances, but the team will be able to use him as a designated hitter if he returns during the current road trip.
Aug 23 2021Contreras (knee) could return Friday as the designated hitter for the upcoming series against the White Sox and Twins, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has already missed the minimum 10 days with a sprained right knee, but it doesn't sound as though he'll have to miss too much more time. He may not be ready to catch yet, but as long as the Cubs trust him to run the bases, he could return to the roster as an offense-only player until his knee fully heals.
Aug 22 2021Contreras was spotted Sunday testing his sprained right knee by running the bases, Brian Sandalow of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: According to manager David Ross, Contreras has been able to do some catching in addition to running, but his knee hasn't healed enough for the backstop to take part in blocking drills behind the plate. Sandalow speculates that if Contreras is activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of next weekend's road series versus the White Sox, he could be deployed as a designated hitter before catching in games.
Aug 16 2021Contreras (knee) played catch and went through some agility drills before Monday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras first sustained his knee sprain during pregame catching drills Thursday, so it's good to see him get in some activity before a game, even if it's light. The catcher will be out until next week at least, and with the team squarely outside of the playoff hunt, they likely won't rush him back into a heavy workload anytime soon.
Aug 12 2021Contreras' knee sprain isn't considered a serious one, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The injury was bad enough to send him to the injured list, but the Cubs called that move precautionary. The team has little reason to risk any further injury for Contreras, who's one of the team's only remaining regulars following a major sell-off at the deadline. The team now sits 14 games out of a playoff spot and has very little to play for down the stretch, so the last thing they'll want to do is risk long-term injury to one of their best remaining players.
Aug 10 2021Contreras will be on the bench for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 0-for-3 in the first half of the twin bill, dropping his batting average to .228. He unsurprisingly won't be asked to catch two games in one day, so he'll sit in favor of Robinson Chirinos for the nightcap.
Aug 6 2021Contreras is not in the lineup Friday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started the past three games and will receive a day off after going 3-for-12 with a double, a walk, three RBI, three runs and five strikeouts. Robinson Chirinos will work behind the plate in his place.
Aug 5 2021Contreras went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras contributed to a four-run rally for the Cubs in the fifth inning by doubling home two. That his was lone hit of the day, though he tallied a hit in each of the team's games at Coors Field and collected three RBI and three runs scored in the three-game set. Overall, Contreras is now hitting .233/.341/.430 across 387 plate appearances this season.
Aug 1 2021Contreras is not starting Sunday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started the last three games and will take a seat after going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts Saturday. Robinson Chirinos will start behind the plate and bat seventh in his place in the series finale.
Jul 29 2021Contreras went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras popped his 17th home run of the season in the fifth inning against Cincinnati starter Luis Castillo with a runner on. The Chicago catcher should remain a key part of the team's lineup, unless he's moved before Friday's deadline, as the Cubs already traded Anthony Rizzo Thursday and could continue to move on from some of their core players.
Jul 28 2021Contreras isn't starting Wednesday against Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras drew starts in each of the last four games, but he'll get a chance to regroup after he went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts Tuesday. Robinson Chirinos will start behind the dish and bat seventh.
Jul 24 2021Contreras went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Saturday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras delivered a leadoff home run in the fourth inning, his 15th long ball of the campaign. He was also ejected from the game arguing a call against Jason Heyward, though it was in the bottom of the ninth inning so did not cost him any plate appearances. Contreras has been on a modest power surge of late, delivering two home runs and two doubles across his last six starts. For the season, he is hitting.239/.350/.433 across 346 plate appearances.
Jul 23 2021Contreras is not in the lineup Friday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started the past four contests and will take a seat after going 3-for-15 with two doubles and a walk during that stretch. Robinson Chirinos will work behind the plate in his absence.
Jul 18 2021Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A 3-for-4 effort with a home run and two RBI on Saturday raised Contreras' average to .306 since the start of July. He's also drawn seven walks in that 10-game span. Robinson Chirinos will catch and bat eighth Sunday.
Jul 17 2021Contreras went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 4-2 win over Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras scored the Cubs' first run of the game when he scored on a sixth-inning double by Javier Baez. In the ninth, Contreras put the Cubs ahead for the first time with his two-run blast, and that stood up for a win. The catcher has hit safely in eight of his 10 games in July, going 11-for-36 (.306) in that span. He's slashing .241/.350/.431 with 14 homers, 33 RBI, 38 runs scored and three stolen bases through 322 plate appearances overall. His homer Saturday was his first since June 24.
Jul 11 2021Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old has gone 1-for-4 in four consecutive games en route to a .286 average with one RBI in 29 at-bats this month. Robinson Chirinos will catch and bat eighth in Sunday's series finale.
Jul 8 2021Contreras isn't starting Thursday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had started in each of the last eight contests, and he reached base safely in each of those appearances. During that time, he went 8-for-26 with two doubles, a run, an RBI and 10 walks. Robinson Chirinos will start behind the plate and bat fifth.
Jun 28 2021Contreras isn't starting Monday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will get a day off after he went 0-for-10 with seven strikeouts across the last three games. Jose Lobaton will start at catcher and bat eighth.
Jun 26 2021Contreras took a fastball off his left hand in Friday's game against the Dodgers but was able to finish out the contest and seems to have avoided a serious injury, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras took a 98 mph pitch from Los Angeles reliever Joe Kelly off his left hand in the sixth inning but was not lifted for a pinch runner. The Chicago catcher had one more at-bat, striking out in the eighth inning. Manager David Ross said it was a "good sign" that Contreras "got through the game and was still able to compete at a high level," but the team will know more after checking him out on Saturday. It's possible that Contreras gets a day off to let his bruise heal, but at this point, it looks like he avoided a more serious injury.
Jun 24 2021Contreras went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 4-0 victory over the Dodgers on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras provided some insurance with his sixth inning home run to left off Walker Buehler, though Chicago wouldn't need it as the staff threw a combined no-hitter. It was his second straight game with a home run as Contreras has put together a nice three-game stretch, going 5-for-11 with two doubles and two home runs.
Jun 22 2021Contreras went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras made it 5-0 Chicago on an RBI single in the sixth inning, then hit his 12th home run of the season in the eighth to make it 6-1. The catcher is having another solid campaign with a .766 OPS and the dozen long balls, which is good for third on the team, though his .237 batting average would be a new career low.
Jun 19 2021Contreras isn't starting Saturday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has gone 0-for-7 with a walk and two strikeouts across his last three appearances, and he'll retreat to the bench for the second time in the last four games. Jose Lobaton will start at catcher and bat eighth.
Jun 16 2021Contreras is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras started the previous five games and will receive the day off Wednesday in New York. Jose Lobaton will work behind the plate in his place for the Cubs.
Jun 11 2021Contreras went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and two runs scored in Friday's win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras hit his 11th home run of the season in the eighth inning, giving the Cubs their final run of the day in the 8-5 victory. The catcher is third on the team in long balls, trailing Javier Baez (14 home runs) and Kris Bryant (13). Contreras is one of the best-hitting backstops in the game and should remain a strong fantasy asset.
Jun 9 2021Contreras isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over San Diego, but he'll get a breather in Wednesday's series finale. P.J. Higgins will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
Jun 8 2021Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run as Chicago beat San Diego 7-1 Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras opened the scoring with a 419-foot bomb to left off starter Dinelson Lamet but failed to make any other offensive impact. The home run ended an 0-for-11 skid for the backstop as a starter and he's now slashing a quality .245/.341/.435 in 55 games.
Jun 6 2021Contreras is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will rest up Sunday after starting the first three games of the series in San Francisco. P.J. Higgins will get the start behind the plate, though Contreras could be an option to pinch hit later in the contest.
Jun 2 2021Contreras isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a double and a strikeout in Tuesday's win over San Diego. P.J. Higgins will start at catcher and bat eighth.
Jun 1 2021Contreras went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run in Tuesday's win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras led off in this one and provided a much-needed offensive boost in the 4-3 win. The Chicago catcher now has nine home runs and 24 RBI through 49 games, and he should continue to be a reliable fantasy backstop the rest of the way.
May 26 2021Contreras (wrist) is starting Wednesday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras took a pitch to the wrist while catching Sunday and was held out of Tuesday's lineup as a result. However, he underwent X-rays that came back negative, and he'll start behind the plate and bat fifth Wednesday.
May 25 2021Contreras is expected to take swings in the cage Tuesday after X-rays on his wrist came back negative, according to manager David Ross, Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The catcher is not in the lineup against the Pirates after taking a pitch to the wrist while catching Sunday. However, he does not appear destined to miss prolonged time given Tuesday's positive news. It's unknown whether the backstop could be a pinch-hitting option Tuesday.
May 23 2021Contreras suffered a left wrist injury late in Sunday's win over the Cardinals, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was hit on the wrist by a 99 mph fastball while catching in the bottom of the 10th inning Sunday, but he was able to remain in the game after he was examined by trainers. The Cubs have a scheduled day off Monday, and Contreras will be monitored in the coming days to determine the extent of the issue.
May 20 2021Contreras will sit Thursday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has handled a very heavy workload behind the plate this season but will sit for the day game after playing Wednesday evening. P.J. Higgins will catch Trevor Williams in his absence.
May 17 2021Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Monday's 7-3 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras batted leadoff in this one and he made his presence felt in his second at-bat, taking former teammate Jon Lester deep for his eighth home run of the season. The slugging catcher has now batted first in three of the Cubs' last four games, and Contreras had the day off in the other contest, so it looks like manager David Ross is comfortable with him in the role. Contreras doesn't offer the speed of a more traditional leadoff hitter, but he's adept at getting on base and should be able to score plenty of runs.
May 15 2021Contreras will sit Saturday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has handled one of the heaviest workloads among all catchers this season, but even he can't start every game behind the plate. He'll get a rest after starting seven straight contests, with Tony Wolters taking over in his absence.
May 12 2021Contreras went 4-for-5 with four singles and a strikeout in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras did his part to keep the line moving Wednesday. He's rebounded after a tough stretch to start May -- the catcher has gone 7-for-14 with a pair of RBI and a run scored in his last four games. For the season, he's posted a .248/.349/.459 slash line with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 18 runs scored and two stolen bases in 129 plate appearances.
May 4 2021Contreras will be on the bench for the second half of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went 0-for-3 with a walk in the afternoon game. It's no surprise to see that he won't be asked to catch two games in one day. Tony Wolters will take over behind the plate in his absence.
May 3 2021Contreras (thigh) will return to the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers, catching and batting fifth. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras sat for two straight games with a minor thigh issue, though he did appear off the bench Sunday. He'll be involved from the start this time around and will look to build on his .238/.333/.512 slash line.
May 2 2021Contreras (thigh) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old will be sidelined for the second consecutive contest after exiting Friday's game with mild tightness in his right thigh. According to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, manager David Ross said Contreras believes his thigh is fine, but he'll go through a pregame workout Sunday in any case as he attempts to prove his health heading into the upcoming week. Tony Wolters receives another start behind the plate for Chicago while Contreras is day-to-day with the injury.
May 1 2021Contreras (thigh) isn't starting Saturday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras exited Friday's series opener against Cincinnati due to mild right thigh tightness, and he'll be out of the lineup Saturday as a result. Tony Wolters will start behind the dish and bat eighth. Per Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network, Contreras believes he could play Saturday if necessary, so it doesn't sound as though he'll miss too much more time.
Apr 30 2021Contreras exited Friday's game against the Reds due to mild right thigh tightness, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras hit a single in the fifth inning Friday, but he exited with a trainer once he reached first base. While the Cubs described his injury as minor, it's not clear whether Contreras will be forced to miss additional time. Prior to his departure, Contreras went 2-for-3 with a double.
Apr 26 2021Contreras went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Monday's 8-7 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras is only batting .239 but he has an .894 OPS, which has been boosted significantly by his seven home runs in just 21 games. The catcher's career high in home runs is 24, which he recorded across 105 games back in 2019. Contreras looks poised to surpass that number if he stays healthy this year. He's already matched his 2020 long ball total, and it took him 57 games to reach the figure a year ago.
Apr 25 2021Contreras is not in Sunday's lineup against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has started five consecutive games, so he will get a breather Sunday in the series finale with the team squaring off against Brandon Woodruff. Austin Romine will take over behind the plate and bat eighth.
Apr 23 2021Contreras went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run, one walk and two strikeouts in Friday's 15-2 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras struck out in his first two at-bats Friday, but his three-run blast in the sixth inning gave the team a 15-2 lead over Milwaukee. The 28-year-old has now reached base safely in each of his last 15 games, and he's slashing .267/.384/.583 with six home runs and 13 RBI this season.
Apr 21 2021Contreras went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Wednesday's 16-4 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has playing well lately, as he's now 11-for-30 across his last eight games with four home runs, six RBI and seven runs scored. The catcher has primarily been batting second for the Cubs, so he should be able to keep scoring runs in bunches, though he might not see as many RBI opportunities as he did in previous seasons when he batted a bit lower in the order.
Apr 17 2021Contreras went 2-for-4 with two home runs in Saturday's win over the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras took Huascar Ynoa deep twice, launching a solo shot in the first inning and adding another solo bomb in the third. The star backstop has six homers on the year and has been one of the few bright spots in the Cubs lineup this season, hitting safely in seven games in a row while posting a .282 average through his first 13 contests.
Apr 16 2021Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout in Friday's loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat Friday, but he responded with his third home run of the year in the fifth inning. The 28-year-old is now slashing .257/.413/.514 with seven runs and four RBI to begin the season.
Apr 14 2021Contreras isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras blasted a key home run in Tuesday's win over Milwaukee, but he'll get a breather for Wednesday's series finale. Austin Romine will start behind the dish, batting eighth.
Apr 13 2021Contreras went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs were stymied by Milwaukee starter Brandon Woodruff, scoring just one run across six innings, but Contreras hit a two-run shot off of Brent Suter in the eighth that ultimately gave Chicago the 3-2 win. It was the second home run of the season for the catcher, who has recorded a hit in five straight games to raise his season average to .226. That number should continue to climb, and Contreras can be counted on for solid production at his position if he stays healthy.
Apr 12 2021Contreras went 1-for-3 with a walk in Monday's loss against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has hit safely in each of the Cubs' last four games, but he hasn't produced a lot of offense with only one homer and three RBI across his first 10 contests. The star catcher is hitting just .214 thus far, though the entire Cubs lineup has been struggling early in the year.
Apr 7 2021Contreras is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After being drilled by a pitch for the second time in as many days in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 4-0 loss to Milwaukee, Contreras took exception and exchanged words with Brewers pitcher Brad Boxberger, inciting a benches-clearing confrontation between both clubs. Though no ejections were made and no discipline from MLB is expected, Contreras will nonetheless get some time on the bench to cool off while Tony Wolters pick up a start behind the dish in the series finale. Contreras should check back into the lineup for Thursday's series opener in Pittsburgh.
Apr 5 2021Contreras went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Monday's win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras went deep against Milwaukee starter Brett Anderson during a four-run fourth inning, giving the Chicago catcher his first long ball of the season. Contreras had seven home runs in 57 games last season and posted a career-high 24 homers in the team's last full season back in 2019. He could certainly surpass that figure in 2021 if he stays healthy.
Apr 4 2021Contreras is starting at catcher and batting second in Sunday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras led off Saturday's game with Ian Happ out of the lineup, going 0-for-2 with two walks, but he'll bump back to second with Happ back in there Sunday. It's also the third straight start behind the plate for Contreras to start the season, so the Cubs do seem intent on riding their 28-year-old backstop, though he'll likely see an off day fairly soon.
Apr 3 2021Contreras is starting at catcher and batting first in Saturday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's not every day that a catcher bats leadoff, but Contreras was already batting second for the Cubs, and he'll now move up a spot with Ian Happ out of Saturday's lineup. Contreras doesn't offer a ton of speed atop the lineup, though he's good at getting on base and could score a handful of runs if the Chicago bats behind him are able to get going after a sluggish season opener Thursday.
Apr 2 2021Contreras went 0-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's 5-3 loss to Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was a productive, albeit hitless performance for Contreras who reached base on an error, and then a fielder's choice, before finishing the contest with a sacrifice fly late. Contreras has been an inconsistent hitter the last few years, excelling in 2017 and 2019, but struggling considerably in 2018 and 2020. Manager David Ross clearly has faith in the catcher's ability to bounce back in 2021 as Contreras hit second in Thursday's order. The 28-year-old figures to start the majority of Chicago's games largely because of backup catcher Tony Wolters' lack of offensive potential.
Mar 29 2021Contreras went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run and two runs scored in Monday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The catcher finished the exhibition schedule with a flourish, bringing his spring slash line to a robust .317/.440/.756. Contreras batted second in this one and looks likely to slot in there during the regular season. With the likes of Ian Happ, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant around him in the order, Contreras should be able to post strong numbers in 2021.
Mar 17 2021Contreras, who slotted in as the No. 2 hitter for Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Padres, could hit there regularly this season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Wednesday's lineup could be a preview of Opening Day for the Cubs, with Ian Happ first and Contreras second, followed by Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Joc Pederson and Javier Baez. Rizzo hit second 38 times last season to lead the team, but manager David Ross said he'll "definitely consider" moving Contreras up and having Rizzo and Bryant hit 3-4. Contreras should post strong numbers no matter where he slots into the lineup, but hitting second should give him more at-bats over the course of the season than if he hit lower in the order.
Feb 28 2021Contreras, who is under team control through the 2022 season, said he is open to a contract extension during spring training, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras and the Cubs avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.65 million contract last month, and the catcher will be arbitration eligible again next offseason. He said he is "willing to listen to whatever they have" in terms of extension offers, though the team is also dealing with similar decisions around star players Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez. Contreras will look to bounce back and prove his value after a subpar 2020 season in which he posted a .763 OPS in 57 games, down from his .888 mark in 2019.
Jan 15 2021Contreras and the Cubs agreed to a one-year, $6.65 million contract Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has been the subject of trade rumors this winter, but he remains in Chicago for now. Wherever he winds up, he'll remain one of the top offensive catchers in the game, as he's posted an average or better slash line in each of his five big-league seasons, including a .243/.356/.407 line last season.
Sep 27 2020The Cubs scratched Contreras from the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was in line to serve as Chicago's designated hitter in the regular-season finale, but those duties will now fall to Javier Baez instead. Manager David Ross noted that nothing is physically wrong with Contreras; the skipper just decided that he wanted to get Baez some more at-bats heading into the postseason.
Sep 25 2020Contreras went 2-for-3 with a walk, two home runs, three runs scored and four RBI in Friday's 10-0 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had a huge game and was instrumental in the big win over the Cubs' crosstown rivals. The catcher now has seven home runs and 26 RBI this season, and he'll look to carry some momentum into the playoffs, which start next week.
Sep 18 2020Contreras went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Friday's 1-0 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rich Hill and Caleb Thielbar limited the Cubs to just three total hits, but Contreras managed two of them, and the Chicago catcher drove in the game's only run. Contreras is now batting .256 with a .760 OPS and 22 RBI in 49 games.
Sep 11 2020Contreras went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a walk, an RBI and two runs in a victory over the Reds on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras reached base five times in the win, tying his career high with four hits. The offensive display continued a strong month for the backstop, who is hitting .457 (16-for-35) with 10 runs scored and eight RBI in September.
Sep 4 2020Contreras went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and four total RBI in Friday's 4-1 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras hit a two-run single in the first inning to open the scoring. He added an RBI single in the third and then went yard in the sixth to cap off a strong overall performance. Contreras has found his touch in September -- he's 8-for-17 (.471) with five RBI and six runs scored in his last four games. The 28-year-old is now slashing .234/.329/.411 with five homers, 17 RBI, 26 runs scored and a stolen base through 37 contests overall.
Sep 2 2020Contreras went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras slotted in second in the order with Kris Bryant out of the lineup, and the Chicago catcher responded. It's been a rough go of it so far for Contreras, as he entered the night batting under .200. The three-hit effort bumped his average up to .216, and perhaps it will get him going at the plate for a sustained period of time.
Aug 28 2020Contreras went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cincinnati's Robert Stephenson threw a high fastball in the ninth -- not too high for Contreras, who put the ball out to center field on a line drive. Contreras' season numbers are not impressive, but he now has two home runs in his last three games and we're still at the point where a few big games can change the narrative quickly.
Aug 25 2020Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to Detroit on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Contreras' long ball was an afterthought on the scoreboard -- it came with Chicago down by seven runs in the ninth inning -- it could help the backstop get back on the right track as he had last gone deep Aug. 4. Since that date, Contreras went 7-for-52 (.135) with only one extra-base hit and 19 strikeouts before his 418-foot blast Tuesday. His season slash line of .216/.333/.386 is well below his career norm.
Aug 17 2020Contreras went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and an RBI in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras played a key role in a four-run sixth inning that rallied the Cubs to a 5-4 victory. His one-out double brought home Javier Baez and trimmed the St. Louis lead to 4-2. He then came around to score on David Bote's go-ahead three-run home run. It's been a tough few days for Contreras, who was ejected from Wednesday's game against Cleveland and came into Monday hitless in his last five contests. The streak extended to six games with an 0-for-2 showing in the first half of Monday's doubleheader. The 28-year-old backstop is now batting .231 with a .753 OPS, and both of those figures should continue to climb.
Aug 12 2020Contreras was ejected from Wednesday's game against the Indians during the fifth inning, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old was unhappy with a check-swing call during his third at-bat and was subsequently tossed from the contest. Contreras went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts prior to exiting. Backup catcher Victor Caratini took over behind the plate, but since he was already serving as the designated hitter, the Cubs lose the extra bat for the remainder of game.
Aug 5 2020Contreras went 1-for-4 with a single, an RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Batting cleanup as the DH, Contreras drove in a run in the eighth and then stole second off Gabe Speier and Salvador Perez, matching his stolen-base total from all of last season. Contreras also has a couple homers already and is batting north of .300 through 11 games.
Aug 4 2020Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras extended the Cubs' lead to 5-2 in the eighth inning and they ended up needing the insurance run. The Chicago catcher has been locked in with a 1.013 OPS through 10 games, and he should continue to post strong numbers from the middle of the team's lineup.
Jul 28 2020Contreras isn't starting Tuesday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras had started in each of the Cubs' first four games this year, but he'll take a seat Tuesday after putting together multi-hit performances in the past two games. Victor Caratini will start behind the plate and bat second.
Jul 26 2020Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was scorching hot in summer camp with six home runs, and now he has his first long ball that counts in 2020. The 28-year-old caught two of the Cubs' first three games, with an appearance at DH in between. That formula could be used the rest of the way to limit the wear and tear on Contreras behind the plate.
Jul 25 2020Contreras is the designated hitter and batting fifth in Saturday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In Friday's season opener, Contreras started at catcher while Victor Caratini served as DH. The two are simply flipping roles Saturday, and the Cubs could do this regularly throughout the season to keep both players in the lineup while limiting their time behind the plate.
Jul 22 2020Contreras went 3-for-3 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's scrimmage against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has been on fire in summer camp, Counting intrasquad games as well as scrimmages against other clubs, the catcher now has six home runs. If Contreras can carry this into the regular season, he should be very productive over the 60-game slate.
Jul 14 2020Contreras homered in Tuesday's intrasquad game and now leads the Cubs with three home runs during summer camp, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras is off to a strong start in camp and seems poised to post good numbers in the 60-game regular season if he stays healthy. The team has already announced that Victor Caratini will be the personal catcher for Yu Darvish, which should ease the burden on Contreras behind the plate.
May 18 2020Contreras, who has consistently performed better in the first half of seasons, could excel during a shortened 2020 slate, Max Goodman of SI.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For his career, Contreras has posted better offensive numbers across the board in the first half of seasons. Last year, he led the Cubs with a .294 average and .965 OPS through 82 games. This isn't particularly surprising, given the wear and tear that comes with playing catcher. Contreras could end up benefiting from a shortened schedule, especially if teams are allowed to operate with expanded rosters and Chicago decides to keep a third catcher on the roster.
Mar 10 2020Contreras went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has been chugging along this spring, posting a .292 batting average and .930 OPS in Cactus League play. The 27-year-old catcher had a solid 2019 campaign with 24 home runs and 64 RBI, and he should once again be one of the top options at the position in 2020.
Jan 10 2020Contreras agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Cubs, avoiding arbitration, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is his first of three years as an arbitration-eligible player, and $4.5 million is a pretty good haul for such a player. There have been trade rumors surrounding Contreras for much of the offseason, and interested teams can now be certain how much they would have to pay Contreras in 2020.
Sep 28 2019Contreras is not in the lineup Saturday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras hasn't had his typical heavy workload since the Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention. Jonathan Lucroy starts behind the plate on this occasion.
Sep 26 2019Contreras is not starting Thursday against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs are resting most of their starters for Thursday's series finale with no shot left at making the playoffs. Jonathan Lucroy is starting behind the dish in this one.
Sep 22 2019Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was held out Saturday to get some rest, and he will open on the bench for a second straight day Sunday with Victor Caratini catching Yu Darvish like he usually does. Contreras should be available to pinch hit and figures to be back behind the plate for the Cubs' next game Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
Sep 21 2019Contreras is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 15 2019Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will take a seat Sunday after starting the first two games of the series and going 3-for-8 with two home runs, three runs scored and two RBI. Victor Caratini will start behind the plate and bat sixth in the series finale.
Sep 13 2019Contreras went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs, three runs and a walk during a 17-8 victory against the Pirates on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs catcher went deep twice against Pirates starter Steven Brault in the first three frames. The first long ball gave Contreras a new career high in the homer category, and he set a new high-water mark in runs too. Contreras is batting .283 with 23 home runs, 62 RBI, 52 runs and one steal in 318 at-bats this season.
Sep 12 2019Contreras is not in Thursday's lineup against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is hitting .316 with two home runs this month but is 0-for-11 over his last three games. Victor Caratini starts behind the dish and will hit fifth.
Sep 9 2019Contreras isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras will take a seat after going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Sunday's series finale against Milwaukee. Victor Caratini will draw the start behind the dish and is set to bat fifth.
Sep 7 2019Contreras is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's his second straight day out of the lineup. Thankfully, this was all part of the plan from the beginning and is not indicative of a setback; Contreras told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times that the plan to ease him back from his hamstring injury included Friday and Saturday off. He should be back behind the plate Sunday.
Sep 6 2019Contreras is not in Friday's lineup against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is coming of a huge 4-for-5 game against Milwaukee on Thursday but will make way for Victor Caratini in the second game of this four-game series.
Sep 5 2019Contreras went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a solo home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Thursday's 10-5 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras returned from the injured list Tuesday, and the slugging catcher has hit the ground running. In two games, he's now 6-for-8 with two home runs to get to 21 long balls for the season. Contreras certainly looks healthy and ready to put up big numbers the rest of the way.
Sep 3 2019Contreras went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's victory over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras was activated from the injured list before the game and wasted no time picking up where he left off, launching a 450-foot moonshot to left center field in the second inning. The 27-year-old ended up missing 27 games with a hamstring injury suffered in early August. He remains one of the best hitting catchers in the game, compiling a .279/.369/.537 slash line with 20 homers and 58 RBI in 344 plate appearances this season.
Sep 2 2019Manager Joe Maddon said that Contreras (hamstring) could be ready to return from the 10-day injured list at some point during the Cubs' four-game series in Milwaukee
Aug 29 2019Contreras (hamstring) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Aug 28 2019Manager Joe Maddon said Contreras (hamstring) is "very close" to beginning a minor-league rehab assignment, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Aug 24 2019Contreras (hamstring) did throwing drills prior to Saturday's game, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Aug 23 2019Contreras (hamstring) hopes to be able to ramp up baseball activities next week, Tony Andracki of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Aug 21 2019Contreras (hamstring) did some on-field drills prior to Wednesday's game against the Giants, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Aug 18 2019Contreras (hamstring) is making progress in his rehab and is now "beyond discomfort," Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Aug 5 2019Contreras is expected to miss four weeks due to his strained right hamstring, a source tells Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com.
Aug 4 2019Contreras was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a right hamstring strain.
Aug 3 2019Contreras will undergo an MRI on his right hamstring Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Jul 30 2019Contreras isn't in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cardinals.
Jul 26 2019Contreras went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 24 2019Contreras (foot) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Wednesday's game against the Giants, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com<\/a> reports. He'll bat fifth and start at catcher<\/a> in the series finale.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 23 2019Contreras (foot) will likely be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Wednesday's game against the Giants, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune<\/a> reports. \"Everything feels fine,\" Contreras said Monday, regarding his recovery from a strained right foot.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 21 2019Contreras (foot) is progressing well in his recovery and could return from the injured list when first eligible Wednesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 20 2019Contreras (foot) is scheduled to take batting practice Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 19 2019Contreras (foot) is slated for baseball activity Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 16 2019Contreras (foot) will resume baseball activities Friday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 15 2019Contreras was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a strain of the arch muscle in his right foot, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 15 2019Contreras (foot) remains out of the lineup<\/a> Monday against the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 14 2019Contreras is out of Sunday's lineup versus the Pirates with a sore right foot, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 14 2019Contreras is not in the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game against the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 13 2019Contreras went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run, two runs and a walk during a 10-4 victory against the Pirates on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 12 2019Contreras will sit Friday<\/a> against the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 4 2019Contreras went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 4 2019Contreras went 3-for-5 with a double, two-run home run and three RBI on Thursday against the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 1 2019Contreras is out of the lineup<\/a> for Monday's game against the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 27 2019Contreras is out of the lineup<\/a> for Thursday's game against the Braves.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 25 2019Contreras went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Monday's 8-3 win over the Braves.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 23 2019Contreras is out of the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game against the Mets.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 19 2019Contreras went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and a grand slam in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the White Sox.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 18 2019Contreras will sit Tuesday<\/a> against the White Sox.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 15 2019Contreras is not starting Saturday<\/a> against the Dodgers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 12 2019Contreras is not in the lineup<\/a> Wednesday against the Rockies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 10 2019Contreras is not in the lineup<\/a> Monday against the Rockies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 7 2019Contreras is out of the lineup<\/a> for Friday's game against the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 5 2019Contreras went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored in Wednesday's 9-8 win over the Rockies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 4 2019Contreras is not in the lineup<\/a> Tuesday against Colorado.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 3 2019Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Monday's 8-1 win over the Angels.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 31 2019Contreras is not in the lineup<\/a> Friday against the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 26 2019Contreras is starting at catcher and batting fifth<\/a> in Sunday's game against the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 25 2019Contreras is not in Saturday's lineup<\/a> against the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 24 2019Contreras is out of the lineup<\/a> for Friday's game against the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 20 2019Contreras will sit Monday<\/a> against the Phillies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 17 2019Contreras went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run and a walk Friday night against the Nationals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 15 2019Contreras is not in the lineup<\/a> Wednesday against the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 11 2019Contreras went 2-for-7 with a walkoff solo home run in a 2-1 victory against the Brewers on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 11 2019Contreras went 2-for-7 with a walk-off solo home run in a 2-1 victory against the Brewers on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 9 2019Contreras is out of the lineup<\/a> for Thursday's game against the Marlins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 24 2018Contreras is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.Contreras will sit for the third time in seven games since the All-Star break. Victor Caratini will get the nod behind the plate in his place.
Jul 22 2018Contreras went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 7-2 victory over St. Louis.Fresh off his first All-Star appearance, Contreras continues swinging a hot bat. He's raised his batting average from .269 to .282 since the start of July with a couple homers and seven RBI during that span. On the year, the Venezuelan backstop has just eight home runs and 37 RBI after hitting 21 homers and 74 RBI in just 117 games last season.
Jul 21 2018Contreras is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.Contreras will receive a breather after going 1-for-4 with a solo home run and three strikeouts during Friday's loss. In his place, Victor Caratini will catch Tyler Chatwood. Expect to see Contreras back behind the plate for Game 2.
Jul 20 2018Contreras went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Cardinals.Contreras also struck out three times, so it was a mixed effort. The 26-year-old catcher went deep in the All-Star Game Tuesday and now has eight home runs this season. He'll have to get rolling to match the 21 long balls he recorded in 2017, but he certainly has the talent to get hot in a hurry.
Jul 19 2018Contreras is out of Thursday's starting lineup against the Cardinals.Contreras will get an off day coming out of the break after participating in the All-Star Game. Victor Caratini is slated to handle the catching duties and bat eighth in his stead.
Jul 14 2018Contreras is not in the lineup Saturday against the Padres/Contreras is hitless in his last four games, though he's hit .340 with a .984 OPS in his last 15. Victor Caratini will start behind the plate in his place.
Jul 11 2018Contreras is out of the lineup against the Giants on Wednesday.Contreras will take a seat after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts during Tuesday's victory. Victor Caratini will set up behind the plate and catch Mike Montgomery during the series finale.
Jul 7 2018Contreras is out of the lineup Saturday against Cincinnati.Contreras will retreat to the bench following five straight starts behind the plate, during which he hit .556 with a 1.535 OPS. In his place, Victor Caratini will handle the catching duties and bat seventh.
Jul 6 2018Contreras went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Friday's loss to the Reds.The Cubs had just eight hits and two runs, but Contreras was still productive from the No. 7 spot in the lineup. The 26-year-old catcher has been locked in lately, going 16-for-34 over his last 10 games with two home runs and 10 RBI. Chicago has a number of strong options in its lineup, but Contreras could move himself up in the order if he keeps hitting like this. He's now batting .287 this season with an .840 OPS.
Jul 4 2018Contreras went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and three RBI in Wednesday's win over the Tigers.Contreras played a key role in sending the Wrigley Field crowd home happy on the Fourth of July. His sixth inning home run broke a 2-2 tie, then he tacked on some insurance runs for the Cubs in the seventh with a double that plated two more. The young catcher has been locked in lately, going 13-for-29 over his last eight games with two home runs and 10 RBI.
Jul 1 2018Contreras went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI in Sunday's win over the Twins.Contreras batted seventh in this one, which is more of a reflection of the depth of Chicago's lineup than his performance to date, as the young catcher now has a solid .275 average and .805 OPS on the season. Contreras should continue to be one of the top options at his position in all fantasy formats.
Jun 29 2018Contreras is not in the lineup against Minnesota on Friday.Contreras will receive a standard breather following three straight starts behind the plate. Chris Gimenez will catch Mike Montgomery and bat eighth in his place. Look for Contreras to return to the starting nine Saturday.
Jun 27 2018Contreras homered and drove in four runs in a 2-for-4 game Wednesday against the Dodgers.Contreras hadn't driven in multiple runs since May 12, a 36-game span in which Contreras hit just .254/.364/.331 with one home run and six RBI. Thanks to his hot start, Contreras still owns a solid .272/.360/.444 overall slash line, but he has been coasting on his strong April for some time now. The Cubs will hope Wednesday's game is sign he can rediscover that form.
Jun 25 2018Contreras is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers.Contreras doubled Sunday and homered Saturday to pick up just his second and third extra-base hits since May 27, but manager Joe Maddon still decided to give his top backstop a break Monday. Chris Gimenez will get the start behind the plate in Contreras' place.
Jun 23 2018Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Saturday against the Reds.Contreras launched his home run over the right field wall in the second inning off Anthony DeSclafani, his fifth of the season. It was his first home run and only fourth extra-base hit since May 12. That has resulted in a disappointing .422 slugging percentage through 237 at-bats this season, 50 points below his career mark.
Jun 22 2018Contreras is not in the lineup against Cincinnati on Friday.Contreras will take a seat after starting the past three games behind the plate, while going 0-for-11 with one walk and five strikeouts during that span. In his absence, Chris Gimenez will catch Jose Quintana and bat eighth.
Jun 19 2018Contreras is out of the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Dodgers.Contreras was excluded from the lineup the Cubs had posted Monday before that game was postponed due to rain. Manager Joe Maddon will stick with that same starting nine for Game 1 of the twin bill, but expect Contreras to check back in behind the plate for the nightcap. Chris Gimenez will catch for starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood in the afternoon contest.
Jun 18 2018Contreras is not in the lineup Monday against the Dodgers.Contreras will head to the bench for what appears to be a regular day off following a string of three straight starts. The backstop has just done homers on the season, but he's hitting a solid .276/.369/.434. Chris Gimenez will start behind the dish and hit eighth in his stead.
Jun 17 2018Contreras went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's win over the Cardinals.In 12 games this month, Contreras is batting a solid .308 with a .400 on-base percentage. However, he has just one extra-base hit and no home runs so far in June. If the young catcher keeps making good contact at the plate, expect those numbers to climb as the month progresses.
Jun 13 2018Contreras is not in the lineup versus Milwaukee on Wednesday.Contreras will take a seat following a pair of starts as Chris Gimenez gets the nod for the series finale. Over his past 10 games, Contreras is hitting .294 with a .714 OPS and two RBI. Expect him back in the lineup Friday in St. Louis.
Jun 10 2018Contreras is not in the lineup Sunday against the Pirates.Contreras will retreat to the bench after making consecutive starts over the past two days, going 3-for-8 with two strikeouts. Chris Gimenez draws the start in his stead.
Jun 7 2018Contreras is out of the lineup versus Philadelphia on Thursday.Contreras will get a breather during the series finale after starting the past four games, including a two-hit showing in Wednesday's victory. In his place, Chris Gimenez will catch Tyler Chatwood and bat eighth in the order.
Jun 3 2018Contreras went 1-for-4 with a run scored during Sunday's victory over the Mets.Contreras was driven in by Ben Zobrist during the seventh inning to provide a key insurance run. The Cubs' backstop has reached base in each of the last eight games and finished the month of May hitting .273 with three home runs and 14 RBI.
Jun 1 2018Contreras is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets.Contreras will take a breather after starting 10 of the last 11 games for the Cubs. Chris Gimenez will start at catcher and bat eighth against Zack Wheeler and the Mets on Friday.
May 28 2018Contreras is out of Monday's lineup against the Pirates.He has started the last seven games, hitting .179 with nine strikeouts over that stretch. Chris Gimenez will start at catcher and hit seventh in his stead.
May 19 2018Contreras is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against Cincinnati.Contreras went 3-for-6 with one RBI and one run scored during Friday's series opener and will take a seat in favor of Victor Caratini, who will catch Kyle Hendricks and bat sixth in the matinee. Expect to see Contreras back behind the plate for Game 2.
May 19 2018Contreras went 3-for-6 with a run and an RBI in Friday's win over the Reds.Contreras has been absurd at the plate lately, as he's batting an even .500 (15-for-30) over his past eight games. During that span, the 25-year-old has four games with three or more hits. For the season, Contreras is slashing a healthy .287/.366/.503, all of which would be new career highs if they hold up.
May 14 2018Contreras is not in the lineup Monday against the Braves.Contreras has been heating up lately, with three homers and a 1.399 OPS over his last six games. After a slow start, he's now hitting .275/.349/.504 on the season, a near match for his .278/.355/.496 career slash line. Victor Caratini will start behind the plate Monday.
May 12 2018Contreras continued to batter the White Sox on Saturday, going 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBI.Contreras had an RBI single in the second inning to stretch the Cubs' lead to five. He later added a two-run shot off of Chris Beck in the seventh inning. Over his last three games, the catcher is 10-for-15 with three homers and 11 RBI, bringing his OPS up to .868 on the season.
May 11 2018Contreras went 4-for-5 with two home runs, two runs scored and seven RBI in Friday's win over the White Sox.The 25-year-old launched a grand slam off Carson Fulmer in the first inning, and he later added another homer and a double to give him a career-high seven RBI for the day. Contreras has racked up a whopping 20 total bases in his last two games, raising his batting line from .230/.315/.354 to .268/.343/.488. It took a little while, but Contreras is starting to live up to his draft-day price.
May 9 2018Contreras went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Marlins.The young catcher had been in a slump, as he came into Wednesday 2-for-24 over his previous six games. However, he's now riding a modest three-game hitting streak, and perhaps the three-hit outburst is a sign of a hot stretch on the horizon.
May 8 2018Contreras is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins.Contreras will head to the bench for what appears to be a regular night off with the Cubs scheduled for a day game Wednesday. Victor Caratini will start behind the dish and hit fifth in his stead.
May 6 2018Contreras will bat leadoff for the Cubs on Sunday against the Cardinals.It will be the third time in his career that Contreras has batted atop the order, and the fifth different leadoff man Joe Maddon has used this year, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com. Though six players on the Chicago roster have an on-base percentage greater than Contreras' .328 mark entering Sunday, he's seen success batting first in the past, as the backstop is 3-for-9 with a home run in his two previous games leading off.
May 1 2018Contreras is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Rockies.Contreras plays very frequently for a catcher, sitting for just the fifth time so far this season. He's hitting a solid .264/.350/.418, though the fact that he has just one home run is disappointing for his fantasy owners. Victor Caratini will get the start behind the plate Tuesday.
Apr 26 2018Contreras is not in the lineup against the Brewers on Thursday.Contreras will get a day off after starting the past two games behind the plate. In his place, Victor Caratini gets the nod and will bat sixth in the order for the series opener.
Apr 25 2018Contreras went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run, his first of the season, in Tuesday's win over the Indians.Contreras is slashing a solid .274/.361/.438, but the one home run to date is a bit disappointing considering he blasted 21 in 377 at-bats last season. However, the 25-year-old's MLB track record suggests that he should start to see more balls go over the fence if he keeps making good contact at the plate.
Apr 22 2018Contreras is not in the lineup Sunday against the Rockies.Contreras went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI on Saturday and will now be given the afternoon off as the Cubs take on German Marquez in the series finale. Victor Caratini draws the start at catcher and bats seventh in his stead.
Apr 21 2018Contreras went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI Saturday against the Rockies.Contreras has now recorded one hit in each of his past five games, slowly working out of a sluggish few weeks of April. While both games were at Coors Field, Contreras now has back-to-back games with extra-base hits and at least one RBI. He has yet to homer this season, but has seven doubles, alleviating some concern that his power production will remain down in the long-term.
Apr 15 2018Contreras is not in the lineup Sunday against the Braves.Contreras went 1-for-5 with two RBI in Saturday's historic comeback victory over the Braves. He'll now be given the day off with Victor Caratini set to take over behind the plate. Contreras should return to the lineup Monday against the Cardinals.
Apr 12 2018Contreras is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.Contreras will receive a standard maintenance day following a pair of starts behind the plate. In his place, Victor Caratini will catch Kyle Hendricks and bat sixth in Thursday's matinee. Over the course of the first two weeks of the 2018 campaign, Contreras is slashing .326/.408/.488 with six extra-base hits and one RBI.
Apr 10 2018Contreras went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Tuesday's loss to the Pirates.Although Contreras has has posted a .333 batting average since the start of the season, his consistent hitting has yet to translate into much run production. Over nine games he's driven in just one run and scored four. Strikeouts have also given him some trouble, as he's been fanned in 23.8 percent of his plate appearances.
Apr 8 2018Contreras went 2-for-3 in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Brewers.Contreras is now 7-for 27 over his last seven games, and he appears to be back on track following a slow start to the season. He figures to see plenty of opportunities at the dish as long as he can stay healthy. The Cubs begin a three-game series with the Pirates on Monday.
Apr 5 2018Contreras went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Thursday's win over the Brewers.Contreras came into the night with just four hits in his first 21 at-bats of the season, but maybe the three-hit performance will get him going. The young catcher should continue to get ample opportunities from the heart of Chicago's lineup.
Apr 2 2018Contreras is catching and batting fourth in Monday's game against the Reds.Contreras received his first day off of the season Sunday after starting the Cubs' previous three games. So far this year, Contreras is just 4-for-17 with seven strikeouts, but he has the ability to get the bat going in a hurry.
Apr 1 2018Contreras is out of the lineup Sunday against the Marlins.Contreras has been behind the plate for each of Chicago's first three games, going a combined 4-for-17 (.235) with seven strikeouts. He'll take a seat for the series finale, however, giving way to Victor Caratini at catcher.
Mar 20 2018Contreras is likely best suited to hit fourth for the Cubs behind Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.Contreras didn't hit fourth for the Cubs last season until June 5, as he generally was slotted into the bottom half of the lineup, though he did bat second once. From that date on, the young catcher batted .307 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI in 44 games batting cleanup. With studs like Bryant and Rizzo in front of him, Contreras could easily surpass the 74 RBI he posted in 2017. The 25-year-old figures to be one of the top fantasy producers at the catcher position.
Mar 19 2018In his second full spring training working with Jon Lester, Contreras is drawing high marks from the veteran left-hander, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.Last spring, there was some uncertainty over who would catch Lester after the retirement of David Ross, who had served as the lefty's personal catcher. While Lester's ERA did jump from 2.44 in 2016 with primarily Ross behind the plate to 4.33 last year, Contreras was able to catch 12 of the 31 runners who tried to steal against Lester. Contreras also tied for the MLB lead with six catcher pickoffs. "As far as working with him and the way he goes about it, I love everything he does back there," Lester said. This bodes well for the young catcher's playing time outlook, as he won't be sitting every time Lester starts, though the team will no doubt still look to find regular rest opportunities for Contreras to keep him fresh.
Mar 13 2018Contreras went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's Cactus League loss to the Padres.Contreras sat out the last week with the flu, but he wasted no time getting back into the swing of things. He should be good to go moving forward and figures to be one of the top fantasy options behind the plate this season.
Mar 13 2018Contreras (illness) is starting at catcher and batting cleanup for the Cubs' split-squad game against the Padres on Tuesday.After missing a week of action with the flu, Contreras will make his return to the lineup as anticipated. With the illness behind him now, he can regain his focus in preparing for the regular season as he takes on another season as the primary backstop for Chicago.
Mar 11 2018Contreras (illness) said he's feeling better Sunday and expects to return to the Cubs' lineup Tuesday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.The Cubs had originally hoped that Contreras would be able to suit up for Sunday's game as Yu Darvish's batterymate, but his return has apparently been pushed back to Tuesday. The brief illness was never anything to worry about, as Contreras should be at full strength when the season kicks off on March 29.
Mar 10 2018The Cubs are hoping that Contreras, who has been sidelined since Tuesday with a fever, is able to catch Yu Darvish on Sunday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Contreras had been having a good spring prior to coming down with a fever, going 5-for-14 with a home run through five Cactus League games. The team has exercised caution with its star catcher, but he should be good to go in time for the regular season.
Mar 7 2018Contreras is 5-for-14 through five Cactus League games with a home run and 1.000 OPS.Contreras was strong last spring training as well, posting a 1.147 OPS, and he wound up with 21 home runs, 74 RBI and a .276/.356/.499 line in the regular season. The 25-year-old should be able to equal or surpass those numbers if he stays healthy. Last season, Contreras was limited to 117 games, mainly due to a hamstring injury which cost him almost a month. The Cubs will likely try to find Contreras plenty of regular rest days in an effort to avoid injuries in 2018.
Oct 18 2017Contreras (forearm) is starting at catcher and batting fifth for Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Wednesday.Contreras took a pitch off his forearm in the eighth inning of Game 3, but the injury was never expected to keep him out of the Cubs' crucial Game 4 clash. He's 2-for-11 with six strikeouts in the NLCS, which the Dodgers lead 3-0.
Oct 18 2017Contreras, who injured his forearm in Tuesday's game, is expected to be ready for Game 4 on Wednesday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.He went 1-for-3 with a strikeout before being replaced by Alex Avila in the Cubs' 6-1 loss to the Dodgers, who now lead the NLCS 3-0. Contreras took a pitch off the forearm in the eighth inning of Game 3, but barring excessive overnight swelling, he will be back for the potential elimination game.
Oct 1 2017Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.After starting the past two games, Contreras will get the day off as the Cubs close out the regular season against Deck McGuire and the Reds. Alex Avila will take over behind the plate, batting sixth.
Sep 28 2017Contreras is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.The Cubs clinched the NL Central on Wednesday, so they're resting all of their starters for Thursday's series finale. Alex Avila will take over behind the dish for Contreras, batting cleanup.
Sep 27 2017Contreras went 0-for-1 with three walks and an RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Cardinals.The 25-year-old's first walk came with the bases loaded in the third inning, giving him his 74th RBI of the season. Contreras has a strong 10.4 percent walk rate this season, and his plate discipline was on full display in this one. He still strikes out a fair amount (22.9 percent K rate), but Contreras makes up for it with his power and ability to draw walks.
Sep 27 2017Contreras is not in the starting lineup against the Cardinals on Wednesday.Contreras will receive a standard day off following four consecutive starts behind the plate, including an 0-for-2 day with one RBI and three walks during Tuesday's defeat. In his place, Rene Rivera will handle the catching duties and bat eighth in the order.
Sep 22 2017Contreras is not in the lineup against the Brewers on Friday.Contreras receives a standard day off following Thursday's start, going 0-for-4 at the plate during the Cubs' victory. He also took a foul ball off the right knee during the series opener, which caused him to limp around in pain for a short period of time. Although he remained in the game, manager Joe Maddon is likely giving Contreras the night off partially due to this happenstance. In his place, Alex Avila will set up at catcher and bat fifth in the order.
Sep 17 2017Contreras' suspension has been reduced to one game, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports. He will serve his suspension Sunday.Contreras initially received a two-game suspension from the MLB following his ejection from Friday's game against the Cardinals. The backstop appealed the ruling and will now only be forced to sit out one game. He'll serve his suspension Sunday with Alex Avila filling in behind the plate in his absence.
Sep 17 2017Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.Contreras went 1-for-2 with two walks and a pair of runs scored during Saturday's win, but he'll be given the day off for Sunday's matinee against the veteran Lance Lynn. Alex Avila will take over behind the plate and bat cleanup in his absence.
Sep 16 2017Contreras has been suspended two games after he bounced his face mask Friday and it hit home plate umpire Jordan Baker on the leg, but he is appealing, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.Until a ruling on the appeal is handed down, Contreras will remain eligible to play for Chicago. He's in the lineup Saturday, catching and batting cleanup against right-hander Michael Wacha. Contreras has homered twice in four career at-bats against Wacha.
Sep 15 2017Contreras was ejected in the top of the fifth inning Friday against the Cardinals and likely faces a suspension after he bounced his face mask and it hit home plate umpire Jordan Baker on the leg.Contreras and starter John Lackey were ejected after they caused a scene following a missed strike three call that eventually lead to an RBI single from Carlos Martinez. Baker obviously missed the call, but the reaction from Contreras, specifically his equipment bouncing and hitting the umpire, will likely lead to a short suspension. He was 1-for-2 with a strikeout before getting tossed. Contreras could appeal any suspension, so it is unclear when his owners may be without him.
Sep 14 2017Contreras is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.Contreras will get the day off after starting the first two games of the series as the Cubs ease him back from a hamstring injury. He's 2-for-5 with four walks since returning from the disabled list. Taylor Davis will draw a start behind the dish in his stead.
Sep 12 2017Contreras is starting behind the dish and hitting cleanup Tuesday against the Mets.He struck out in a pinch-hit appearance Sunday, but this will mark his first start since Aug. 9, as the Cubs get their star backstop back from a hamstring injury in time to help with the playoff push. The Cubs will be able to give him at least a day or two off per week, as they are currently carrying five catchers on the active roster.
Sep 10 2017Contreras (hamstring) was activated from the disabled list Sunday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.Although Contereas was brought off the disabled list, he's not in the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup against the Brewers. However, with the Cubs having Monday off, it's likely that Contreras will return to serving as the team's go-to backstop in the near future. Rene Rivera is hitting eighth and starting behind the dish Sunday.
Sep 10 2017Contreras is available from the bench Sunday against the Brewers, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Contreras was activated from the disabled list Sunday, and although he's not in the starting lineup he'll be ready to play if called upon. Contreras should return to the lineup soon and will look to pick up where he left off, as he'd gone 9-for-29 (.310) with five home runs and 11 RBI over his last seven games before hitting the DL.
Sep 9 2017Contreras (hamstring) went 1-for-2 with two walks as the DH for High-A Myrtle Beach Friday.Contreras looked comfortable at the plate, and he will now join the big league club Saturday and have his hamstring evaluated. If all goes well, he could be activated from the disabled list soon. The catcher has been out since Aug. 11, and his activation would shift Alex Avila to a reserve role, though the Cubs would likely ease Contreras back into action to make sure he doesn't tweak his hamstring.
Sep 8 2017Contreras (hamstring) went 0-for-2 in his first rehab game Thursday for High-A Myrtle Beach, but the Carolina League playoffs are ending Friday due to Hurricane Irma, and the Cubs must decide another plan to get him at-bats, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.The season has ended for all other Cubs minor-league affiliates, so the decision may be just to call up Contreras to the current 40-man major-league roster. This would help his fantasy owners but might not yield the best statistics out of the gate. Chicago faces the Brewers this weekend in an important playoff-relevant series, so having him aboard may be their most desired course.
Sep 8 2017Contreras (hamstring) is participating in his last rehab game Friday night, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.After completing his rehab assignment, Contreras will join the team and have his hamstring evaluated. If all goes according to plan, he could be activated from the disabled list in the near future. Contreras has been out since Aug. 9, but had been putting on a show before getting hurt. Over the last 10 games he played before hitting the DL, Contreras mashed five home runs while hitting .316 with a 1.113 OPS.
Sep 6 2017Contreras (hamstring) will be behind the plate for 3-to-4 innings during Thursday's rehab outing with High-A Myrtle Beach, Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago reports.Contreras is set to get a couple at-bats during Thursday's game, and then DH the following day. After that contest, the 25-year-old will rest and be reevaluated by the club to see if he's ready to rejoin the Cubs. If all goes well, he could theoretically return prior to Sunday's game against the Brewers, but he may need a few more games in the minors, or a couple days off depending how his hamstring feels.
Sep 5 2017Contreras (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Myrtle Beach on Thursday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.Contreras is set to begin the final stage of his rehab program after being placed on the disabled list with a hamstring strain on Aug. 11. It's unclear how many minor-league contests the catcher will appear in, but it seems that he's on track to return to the majors during this weekend's series against the Brewers.
Sep 4 2017Manager Joe Maddon said Contreras (hamstring) is "really close" to returning, Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago reports.He was able to run the bases with no issue during batting practice Monday, and Maddon indicated Contreras' next step may be a minor-league rehab assignment -- assuming an affiliate is in the playoffs. If not, the Cubs will likely get him up to game speed through simulated games. While he's close, Contreras still remains without a concrete return date.
Sep 1 2017Contreras (hamstring) was out doing baserunning drills prior to Friday's game against the Braves, Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald reports.Contreras was able to run from first to home, and went through the progression of rounding the bases and stopping, as he tested his strained right hamstring. This marks another key step for the 25-year-old, as he continues to ramp up his activity as the final month of the regular season approaches.
Aug 30 2017Contreras (hamstring) was doing catching drills behind the plate prior to Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald reports.Contreras was able to go through drills at his position for the first time since landing on the disabled list a few weeks ago. He was also out doing another round of agility drills, and appears to be passing all the tests while working his way back from the hamstring injury. Contreras is expected to need another couple weeks before he's ready to rejoin the team, while Alex Avila and Rene Rivera continue to man the position in his stead.
Aug 25 2017Contreras (hamstring) took batting practice Friday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.In addition to hitting for the second consecutive day, Contreras practiced throwing to second base from behind the plate. Barring any setbacks, Contreras will look to return to action in mid-September. Until then, Alex Avila and Rene Rivera are in line to spend time in the Cubs' lineup.
Aug 24 2017Contreras (hamstring) took batting practice prior to Thursday's game against the Reds, Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune reports.This marks the first time Contreras was able to partake in batting practice since landing on the DL about two weeks ago. In recent days, the 25-year-old was able to participate in agility drills as well as catch Jake Arrieta during a side session. Contreras remains on a path to return to the big-league team right around the middle of September.
Aug 23 2017Contreras (hamstring) participated in agility drills and caught for teammate Jake Arrieta on Wednesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.Contreras' workout Wednesday included sprints and additional running drills. He did a similar workout Tuesday, so seeing him be able to increase his level of activity in such a short amount of time is certainly promising. If he keeps his current pace, a mid-September activation from the disabled list should be in order for Contreras. Until then, Alex Avila and Rene Rivera will share time in the Cubs' lineup.
Aug 22 2017Contreras (hamstring) was seen doing agility drills on the field Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.The young backstop continues to slowly work his way back from a hamstring strain that has kept him on the shelf since Aug. 9. Contreras should start to ramp up his activity in the next week, and while he still has a ways to go in his recovery, he's headed in the right direction. Barring any setbacks, the hope is that Contreras will be back with the Cubs sometime in mid-September. In the meantime, Alex Avila and Rene Rivera will split duties behind the dish.
Aug 18 2017Contreras (hamstring) was able to play catch for the first time since landing on the disabled list, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.This step marks the beginning of a lengthy recovery for Contreras, who was officially shut down for two weeks when he landed on the DL on Aug. 11. Although it's only been a week without physical exertion thus far, it's expected that the catcher will go another week with minimal activity before beginning to ramp up his rehab efforts. The optimistic timeline for Contreras still seems to be a mid-September return, while Alex Avila continues to get a majority of the starts behind the plate in his stead.
Aug 11 2017Contreras (hamstring) avoided a "worst case scenario" with his injury and should return this season, Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago reports.Contreras exited Wednesday's game after pulling up holding his hamstring while running to first base, and he's expected to hit the 10-day DL. Recovery could take up to a month or more, but Contreras is expected back before the end of the regular season, though it sounds like it could come down to the wire. Alex Avila is expected to handle the bulk of the catching duties in the meantime.
Aug 11 2017Contreras (hamstring) has a moderate hamstring strain, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.The diagnosis makes it hopeful that Contreras will be back in time for the postseason, as the recovery time for this type of injury is generally four to six weeks but the Cubs will take another look at him after two weeks of no physical activity. The announcement does mean that it should only be a matter of time until he is officially placed on the disabled list. Until he returns, expect Alex Avila to take over the bulk of the catching duties.
Aug 11 2017Contreras (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday.Contreras is remaining positive that he will be able to return before the end of the regular season. It will be important for him to get some game action in before the postseason starts just so he can knock off the rust, but his rehab calls on him to be shut down completely for at least two weeks, so don't expect him to return until mid-September at the earliest.
Aug 9 2017Manager Joe Maddon said after Wednesday's game that Contreras (hamstring) will likely go on the 10-day DL, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.It's a right hamstring injury for Contreras, who pulled up lame a few steps short of the first-base bag in the eighth inning. He is expected to undergo an MRI on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports, but it sounds like the Cubs are already resigned to being without Contreras for a stretch. Alex Avila should take over primary catching duties in his absence.
Aug 9 2017Contreras exited Wednesday's game in the eighth inning with an apparent leg injury.Contreras slowly left the game with a trainer after pulling up holding his hamstring while running to first base. The severity of the injury is unclear at this point, but more should be known following Wednesday's game. He looked to be in some serious pain following the injury, and even mild hamstring injuries usually sideline players for around two weeks, so a trip to the DL appears to be a strong possibility.
Aug 6 2017Contreras went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo homers Sunday against the Nationals.Contreras took rookie Erick Fedde deep in the fourth and sixth innings, and now has five home runs in the past four games. The 25-year-old catcher has cemented his spot in the heart of Chicago's order, as his recent power surge has raised Contreras' line to an impressive .281/.349/.532.
Aug 3 2017Contreras went 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI during Thursday's loss to the Diamondbacks.The backstop has been a fantasy force over his past 25 games with nine homers, 27 RBI, 16 runs and a .340/.415/.681 slash line. That pace is obviously unsustainable, but Contreras has also settled into the heart of the lineup and should continue to see plenty of RBI opportunities hitting behind Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant. He's close to locking himself into mention among the top-tier fantasy catchers, if he hasn't already.
Aug 2 2017Contreras is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.Contreras started the past five contests, so he'll hit the bench for a night off despite collecting tow hits and two RBI Tuesday night. Alex Avila will pick up his first start in Chicago to replace him behind the plate.
Jul 26 2017Contreras is not in the lineup Wednesday against the White Sox.Despite bashing a home run in three of the past five games, Contreras will head to the bench for a night off after five consecutive starts behind the dish. Victor Caratini will assume catching duties for the evening.
Jul 26 2017Contreras went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Monday's win over the White Sox.Contreras put the Cubs on the board with a three-run shot off of White Sox starter Carlos Rodon in the first inning. The young catcher now has four home runs in his last six games and seven this month, bringing his season total up to 16. With 56 RBI to boot, Contreras is establishing himself as one of the best fantasy catchers in the game.
Jul 23 2017Contreras hit his 15th home run of the season in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Cardinals.The catcher's two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth inning broke a 3-3 tie and propelled the Cubs to their eighth win in the last nine games. Contreras has been going deep rather frequently, as Sunday's blast marked the third time he's left the yard in the last four games -- a span that's also featured seven RBI.
Jul 21 2017Contreras went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer Friday against the Cardinals.Contreras blasted his 14th homer of the year to give the Cubs a first-inning lead in a game they'd go on to lose. He's smashed five bombs over 14 July contests, and his .272 batting average to go along with a .489 slugging percentage makes him an outstanding fantasy option at the catcher position.
Jul 19 2017Contreras went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's win over the Braves.That's now 13 home runs this season for the young catcher, and four already this month. Since July 1, Contreras is slashing .380/.436/.700, and he looks locked in as a strong fantasy catcher option right now.
Jul 19 2017Contreras is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Braves.Contreras has been behind the dish for each of the Cubs' first five games out of the All-Star break, so manager Joe Maddon will give the young backstop a breather in the day game after a night game. Victor Caratini will catch for Cubs starter Mike Montgomery.
Jul 16 2017Contreras went 4-for-5 with a run during Sunday's win over Baltimore.Contreras' got the short end of the stick Sunday, as Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo both hit home runs in front of him and combined to drive in four. Still, Contreras went 8-for-14 with three doubles, a home run, four RBI and three runs during the three-game series against Baltimore. He projects to see a hefty workload going forward and has the potential to be a high-end fantasy catcher in the second half.
Jul 14 2017Contreras went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer Friday against the Orioles.Contreras launched his 12th blast of the year to put the Cubs on the board in the first inning of a winning effort. He's left the yard six times over his last 17 games, and he continues to provide fantasy owners solid power from the catcher position, as evidenced by his .462 slugging percentage.
Jul 7 2017Contreras is not in the Cubs' lineup Friday against the Pirates.Victor Caratini takes his place batting seventh and manning the plate for Eddie Butler. Contreras has just about matched his 2016 production with 11 home runs and 41 RBI in 268 plate appearances, but he's dipped with his .258/.326/.458 slash line.
Jul 5 2017Contreras is leading off against the Rays on Wednesday.Following a 2-for-4 day during Tuesday's loss, Contreras will slide up to the leadoff position while catching John Lackey for the matinee. The 25-year-old has gotten on base twice in each of the past three contests, and with manager Joe Maddon unafraid to tinker around with the construction of the lineup, Contreras is set to try his hand at the top of the order.
Jun 29 2017Contreras went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's loss to the Nationals.Contreras supplied half of his team's offense when he took Washington starter Stephen Strasburg deep in the fourth inning. Contreras batted fourth in this one after a brief stint as the leadoff hitter on Monday. The young catcher was batting just .209 in early May, but he's now up .252 to go along with a .763 OPS.
Jun 27 2017Contreras went 2-for-4 with a leadoff home run in Monday's win over the Nationals.Contreras shined in his first ever game as a leadoff hitter, putting the Cubs on the board right away against Gio Gonzalez. Contreras doesn't profile as a typical leadoff hitter, but neither does Anthony Rizzo, who recently got some run in the spot. It appears manager Joe Maddon is willing to be creative with his lineup, and if this alignment works, Contreras could stick for a while.
Jun 27 2017Contreras is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Nationals.Contreras went 2-for-4 with a homer in his first game as the Cubs' leadoff hitter Monday, but he'll head to the bench for what appears to be a regular day of rest. Miguel Montero will draw the start behind the dish in his place.
Jun 26 2017Contreras is starting at catcher and leading off Monday against the Nationals.In his most recent attempt to get the Cubs going at the plate, manager Joe Maddon is sliding Anthony Rizzo to the two hole while moving Contreras up to the top of the order. Contreras, who owns a .355 OBP against southpaws this season, will face left-handed hurler Gio Gonzalez in his first game as the Cubs' leadoff hitter.
Jun 25 2017Contreras is out of the lineup Sunday against the Marlins.It will be the second time in three days that Contreras takes a seat, once again giving way to Miguel Montero behind the plate.
Jun 23 2017Contreras is not in the lineup Friday against the Marlins.Despite clubbing two homers in his last four games, Contreras will head to the bench as Miguel Montero takes over behind the dish. The 25-year-old, who is slashing .249/.311/.423 in 64 games (222 plate appearances) this season, should be back in the lineup for Saturday's matinee contest.
Jun 20 2017Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Monday's win over San Diego.After driving in three runs in Sunday's win, Contreras was back at it again Monday. He's posting solid fantasy numbers for a backstop with a .254/.319/.423 slash line, six homers, 32 RBI and 22 runs, and it also appears he's settling in after a slow start. Contreras owned a disappointing .630 OPS through the first 30 games of the campaign, after all.
Jun 19 2017Contreras went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI during Sunday's win over Pittsburgh.The backstop slotted into the three-hole of the lineup Sunday and made the most of the opportunity. He's up to a .254/.320/.411 slash line with 31 RBI for the campaign, which is solid production from the catcher position. Contreras has also been trending in the right direction over the past month with an .811 OPS, 12 RBI and eight runs through his past 24 games.
Jun 18 2017Contreras is batting third in the lineup during Sunday's game against the Pirates.Kris Bryant has been occupying the third spot in the order with Anthony Rizzo leading off over the previous four games. With Bryant getting the day off Sunday, Contreras will move up to fill the void in the heart of the order. Though this shift is only temporary, Contreras is positioned to potentially provide solid DFS value against Jameson Taillon and the Pirates on Sunday.
Jun 17 2017Contreras is not in the lineup Saturday against the Pirates.Although he doubled twice in Friday's contest, Contreras has just four hits over the past week. He'll cede Saturday's start to Miguel Montero.
Jun 16 2017Contreras went 2-for-3 with two doubles, three RBI and a run during Friday's win over Pittsburgh.Games like Friday's have been few and far between for Contreras this season, and the backstop sports a disappointing .246/.315/.397 slash line. Additionally, his five homers, 28 RBI and 21 runs are probably falling short of the expectations the 25-year-old backstop carried entering the season. However, those are still serviceable fantasy numbers from the catcher position in the majority of settings.
Jun 14 2017Contreras is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Mets.Contreras has only three hits over the past week, dropping his season batting average to just .240. He'll hit the bench with a day game on tap Wednesday, allowing Miguel Montero to pick up a start behind the dish.
Jun 11 2017Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.Contreras continues to underperform at the plate, as he's hitting just .231 with no extra-base hits over 26 at-bats in June. He'll take a seat Sunday with Miguel Montero drawing the start.
Jun 9 2017Contreras is not in the Cubs' lineup Friday against the Rockies, Bruce Miles of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.The backstop continues his timeshare with Miguel Montero, who'll receive pitches from Mike Montgomery. Contreras has struggled to build on his exciting 2016 stint, batting just .248/.317/.404 with five home runs and 24 RBI in 180 plate appearances this season.
Jun 4 2017Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.The recent timeshare between Contreras and Miguel Montero continues to take shape as the youngster will head to the bench again Sunday in favor of the veteran backstop Montero. Until Contreras becomes more productive at the plate, expect this timeshare to remain as the season trudges on.
Jun 2 2017Contreras is not in the Cubs' lineup Friday against the Cardinals.He'll give way to Miguel Montero with John Lackey on the mound. Contreras is inhabiting more of a time share with Montero than many fantasy owners thought would happen before the season. Contreras still has posted serviceable numbers for a catcher (.248/.321/.426 with five home runs and 24 RBI in 159 plate appearances), but he's falling short of lofty expectations.
May 29 2017Contreras is out of the lineup Monday against the Padres.Contreras has started two of the last three games, but will give way to Miguel Montero behind the plate for the afternoon contest. The 25-year-old backstop is coming off a productive outing Sunday, as Contreras went 2-for-5 with a solo home run on the afternoon. He now has five long balls on the season, three of which have been in the month of May.
May 27 2017Contreras is not in the lineup Saturday against the Dodgers.Contreras will head to the bench Saturday ahead of Sunday's matinee contest. Miguel Montero will take over behind the dish for Saturday, while Contreras should return to the lineup for the series finale.
May 25 2017Contreras is not in the Cubs' lineup Thursday against the Giants.The backstop also was rested Wednesday after crouching for the four games prior to Tuesday. Miguel Montero takes Contreras' place batting seventh and receiving Eddie Butler's offerings.
May 24 2017Contreras is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Giants.Contreras had been behind the plate for each of the past four days, so manager Joe Maddon will give the young backstop a breather and turn to Miguel Montero to handle the pitching staff for the evening.
May 21 2017Contreras went 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 13-6 win over the Brewers.Contreras may not hit for much of an average with a 27.6 percent strikeout rate, but something can be said for his 22 RBI in 134 plate appearances in one of the strongest all-around lineups in baseball. He'll continue to be one of the more attractive young fantasy catchers in the game.
May 20 2017Contreras went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Friday's loss to the Brewers.Contreras is slashing just .229/.295/.390, numbers that are all down from his strong 2016 rookie season. However, his 19 RBI puts him fifth among MLB catchers, so he's still delivering some value in a stacked Cubs lineup.
May 18 2017Contreras is back in the Cubs' lineup Thursday, batting fifth and catching.Contreras took a seat Wednesday for the second time in three games yet returns to the order as Jon Lester's personal catcher. He's losing a few more starts per week to Miguel Montero than expected this season, but he's an elite fantasy option when he does suit up.
May 17 2017Contreras is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Reds.Despite collecting a pair of hits in Tuesday's contest, Contreras will head to the bench for his second day off in three games. Miguel Montero will slot in behind the dish in his stead.
May 14 2017Contreras is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.Despite the fact that he's collected three hits (including two home runs) over his past two contests, Contreras will head to the bench for Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals. Miguel Montero will take over behind the plate.
May 13 2017Contreras went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Friday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals.He nearly cost the Cubs the lead in the ninth inning, dropping strike three to Kolten Wong on what would have been the final out of the game and then throwing the ball away to allow Randal Grichuk to score from second, but Wade Davis bailed him out with one more whiff. Contreras is hitting just .228/.297/.406 on the season, but his four homers and 15 RBI through 31 games are in line with expectations and Friday's performance may be a sign he's finding his rhythm at the plate.