Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud has signed a two-year contract extension with a third-year option on Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. d'Arnaud was due for free agency at this season's end prior to the new contract. He's been one of the best offensive catchers in baseball the past few years but has taken a bit of a step backward this season. He's slashing .223/.277/.369 with three home runs across just 28 games. However, since returning from the injured list on August 11, he's slugging .476. Fantasy managers should continue starting d'Arnaud in hopes that he can stay hot.

Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Miami Marlins. Stephen Vogt will do the catching and bat eighth in his place. This is the third time in six games that d'Arnaud is on the bench, as it is likely that manager Brian Snitker wants to keep his backstop fresh after missing over three months while on the injured list. He's having a down season, hitting .230 with three home runs, 14 RBI, and seven runs in 27 games. Although, since returning from the IL on August 11, he's hitting .278 with a .906 OPS. If d'Arnaud can keep that up, he will continue to be one of the best hitting catchers in baseball.

Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud has been heating up with the bat since his return from the injured list. On Monday, d'Arnaud went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI, and a walk in the 12-2 win over the Miami Marlins. It's going to take time for d'Arnaud to get completely back into the groove of things. However, this was a sign in the right direction with a nice two-hit performance. Fantasy managers in need of help at catcher should check and see if d'Arnaud is still somehow available on the waiver wire.

Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud has been limited to less than 30 games this season due to injury. However, he notched his third home run of the season during his second game back off the injured list on Friday. He went 2-for-4 with that solo homer in the fifth inning to help the Braves get the 4-2 victory. Fantasy managers should certainly keep an eye on d'Arnaud going forward. He has been one of the better hitting catchers over the last few seasons.

Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. d'Arnaud was recently activated from the injured list after missing more than three months with a torn thumb ligament. Manager Brian Snitker said that after catching 11 innings in his first game back, he doesn't want d'Arnaud in the lineup, but he is available for pinch-hitting duties. In 24 games this season, he is slashing .221/.261/.337 with two home runs. He has been one of the better catching options for fantasy managers the last couple of seasons, and he is looking to continue that now that he's back.

The Atlanta Braves activated catcher Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) from the 60-day injured list on Wednesday. Fellow catcher Kevan Smith was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. d'Arnaud has been out since May 1 due to a torn ligament in his thumb. Prior to the injury, he played in 23 games and slashed .220/.253/.341 with two home runs, 11 RBI and five runs. He will likely be eased into regular playing time, but should resume primary catching duties with the team soon. He's a great waiver wire target for any fantasy manager in need of help at catcher as he's coming off of a great year in which he slashed .321/.386/.533 over 44 games.

Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) will play one more game with Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday and will then likely be activated from the injured list on Tuesday, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. d'Arnaud suffered a torn ligament in his thumb back in early May, and at one point it was believed to be a potentially season-ending injury at one point, but d'Arnaud has managed to exceed expectations on his recovery. He didn't put up much in terms of fantasy value early on this season, slashing .220/.253/.341 with two home runs, 11 RBI and five runs scored over 23 games. He could be worth looking at in deeper formats or two-catcher leagues, but otherwise likely won't have a ton of value to close out the season.

Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) could be reinstated from the 60-day injured list by Tuesday. He is currently scheduled to play the next four games for Gwinnett. The Braves catcher began a rehab assignment on July 30 and will return by early next week. The 32-year-old has not been ruled for the team's weekend series against the Washington Nationals. d'Arnaud slashed .220/. 253/.341with two home runs and 11 RBI across 87 plate appearances in 2021. Fantasy managers should continue to stash d'Arnaud as he could be a difference-maker in deep-league and two-catcher formats for the final stretch of the season.

Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) is getting closer to his big-league return after playing seven innings Tuesday, according to The Athletic's David O'Brien. "Everything's good," said Braves manager Brian Snitker. "Still getting his timing." d'Arnaud been sidelined since May after undergoing thumb surgery. The 32-year-old has been with the Braves throughout the road trip and was participating in baseball activities. d'Arnaud may play in a few more minor league games before being activated from the 60-day injured list. The Braves catcher hit .220 (18-for-82) with two home runs and 11 RBI across 87 plate appearances in 2021. Fantasy managers in two-catcher formats should stash d'Arnaud after he slashed a career-high .321/.386/.533 over 44 games in shortened 2020 campaign.

ATLANTA (AP) — Trying to fill another injury hole with a trade, the Atlanta Braves acquired veteran catcher Stephen Vogt from the Arizona Diamondbacks late Friday night for minor league first baseman Mason Berne. The 36-year-old Vogt, a two-time All-Star with Oakland, batted .212 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 52 games for the major league-worst Diamondbacks this season. He has thrown out 10 of 30 runners attempting to steal. The move came one night after the depleted Braves obtained Joc Pederson in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, bolstering their outfield after recently losing star slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending knee injury. Atlanta, hoping to chase down the New York Mets and win its fourth straight NL East title, has struggled to replace injured catcher Travis d'Arnaud with the likes of Kevan Smith, William Contreras and Jonathan Lucroy. Following a big 2020 season, d'Arnaud has played only 23 games this year and is on the 60-day injured list with torn ligaments in his left... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Trying to fill another injury hole with a trade, the Atlanta Braves acquired veteran catcher Stephen Vogt from the Arizona Diamondbacks late Friday night for minor league first baseman Mason Berne. The 36-year-old Vogt, a two-time All-Star with Oakland, batted .212 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 52 games for the major league-worst Diamondbacks this season. He has thrown out 10 of 30 runners attempting to steal. The move came one night after the Braves obtained Joc Pederson in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, bolstering their outfield after recently losing star slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending knee injury. Atlanta, hoping to chase down the New York Mets and win its fourth straight NL East title, has struggled to replace injured catcher Travis d'Arnaud this year with the likes of Kevan Smith, William Contreras and Jonathan Lucroy. Following a big 2020 season, d'Arnaud has played only 23 games this year and is on the 60-day injured list with torn ligaments in his left thumb. He's been progressing but is not expected back until next month. The third-place Braves (44-46) are four games behind the NL East-leading Mets, with Philadelphia (45-45) in between. Berne, 25, was 3 for 12 (.250) with a home run in five games in the low minors with the FCL Braves this season. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Veteran catcher Tyler Flowers has retired a week after signing a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. MLB.com first reported Flowers’ decision and noted that he hurt his back last weekend. Braves manager Brian Snitker confirmed Flowers’ retirement while speaking to reporters before their game Friday with the Milwaukee Brewers. Flowers, 35, played for the Braves from 2016-20 after spending seven seasons with the Chicago White Sox. “You don’t appreciate guys like that enough until you don’t have him,” Snitker said. “I just think the presence that he had in the clubhouse, the stability that he added, the professionalism. He had a really, really strong, good career. He’s just a wonderful person, carried himself as a pro all the time. It’s a really good career — a really good career. Hopefully he stays around and helps us out.” Flowers had signed a minor league deal after Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud hurt his thumb applying a tag at the plate in a game against the... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have signed catcher Tyler Flowers to a minor league deal. The 35-year-od Flowers spent the past five seasons with the Braves, but wasn't re-signed after hitting .217 with one homer and five RBIs in 2020 backing up Travis d'Arnaud. But Atlanta needs catching depth after d'Arnaud went on the 60-day disabled list last weekend with a left thumb injury. He was hurt applying a tag at the plate in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays and underwent ligament surgery Monday. With d'Arnaud out for an extended period and Alex Jackson also on the DL with a strained hamstring (and likely headed back to the minors after managing just one hit in 23 at-bats this season), the Braves have turned to touted rookie William Contreras to handle the bulk of the catching duties. Thirty-eight-year-old Jeff Mathis was called up with Contreras, but Flowers might be a better option. He provided solid production while sharing the catching job in Atlanta for several seasons, hitting 12 homers with 49 RBIs in 2017 and adding an 11-homer campaign in 2019. Flowers, who hasn't played this season, will likely work his way into shape at the Braves' Triple-A team in suburban Gwinnett before moving to Atlanta to work with Contreras. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Braves put catchers Travis d’Arnaud and Alex Jackson on the injured list Sunday. D’Arnaud was placed on the 60-day IL with a torn ligament in his left thumb after getting hurt on a tag play at the plate in the sixth inning of Saturday night's game against Toronto. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said after the Braves lost 7-2 to Toronto that d’Arnaud is being set for surgery sometime in the next few days. Snitker expects d’Arnaud to return before the season ends. Jackson, who replaced d’Arnaud in the game, went on the 10-day IL with a strained left hamstring. Catcher William Contreras was recalled from the Braves' alternate site and started Sunday against the Blue Jays. Catcher Jeff Mathis had his contract purchased from alternate site. D’Arnaud has a .220 batting average with two homers and 11 RBIs in 23 games. Jackson was 1 for 23 (.043) in 10 games. Contreras, 23, made his major league debut last season, going 4 for 10 in four games. He was the 27th man for Atlanta's doubleheader on April 25 against Arizona. Mathis, 38, spent the previous two seasons with Texas. The 16-year veteran known for his defense has a career .194 batting average in 945 games. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Braves put catchers Travis d’Arnaud and Alex Jackson on the injured list Sunday. D’Arnaud was placed on the 60-day IL with a left thumb sprain after getting hurt on a tag play at the plate in the sixth inning of Saturday night's game against Toronto. Jackson, who replaced d’Arnaud in the game, went on the 10-day IL with a strained left hamstring. Catcher William Contreras was recalled from the Braves' alternate site and started Sunday against the Blue Jays. Catcher Jeff Mathis had his contract purchased from alternate site. D’Arnaud has a .220 batting average with two homers and 11 RBIs in 23 games. Jackson was 1 for 23 (.043) in 10 games. Contreras, 23, made his major league debut last season, going 4 for 10 in four games. He was the 27th man for Atlanta's doubleheader on April 25 against Arizona. Mathis, 38, spent the previous two seasons with Texas. The 16-year veteran known for his defense has a career .194 batting average in 945 games. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. left Sunday night's 13-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs after experiencing pain in his lower abdominal muscles. Acuña led off the fourth with a walk. Kyle Hendricks threw over a couple times while he was on first, and it looked as if Acuña did something to his midsection on a dive back to the bag. He was checked by a trainer while he was on second, but he stayed in. He got up slowly after diving home to score on Travis d'Arnaud's sacrifice fly, and then was replaced in the field in the bottom half. “He’s got an abdominal strain, and we’ll know more tomorrow,” manager Brian Snitker said. Snitker said he isn’t sure if Acuña is going to need a stint on the injured list. “It was so late here that they couldn’t get the test that they wanted, so they’ll get it tomorrow in New York and, like I said, we’ll know more then,” he said. Acuña is off to a terrific start this year, batting .419 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in 16 games. The outfielder... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. left Sunday night's game against the Chicago Cubs after experiencing pain in his lower abdominal muscles. Acuña led off the fourth with a walk. Kyle Hendricks threw over a couple times while he was on first, and it looked as if Acuña did something to his midsection on a dive back to the bag. He was checked by a trainer while he was on second, but he stayed in. He got up slowly after diving home to score on Travis d'Arnaud's sacrifice fly, and then was replaced in the field in the bottom half. Acuña is off to a terrific start this year, batting .433 with seven homers and 16 RBIs heading into the series finale against the Cubs. The outfielder also had scored a major league-high 20 runs coming into the day. Atlanta has been hit hard by injuries early in the season. Pitchers Max Fried, Drew Smyly and Sean Newcomb and outfielders Cristian Pache and Ender Inciarte have been placed on the 10-day IL since Wednesday. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. left Sunday night's game against the Chicago Cubs after experiencing pain in his lower abdominal muscles. Acuña led off the fourth with a walk. Kyle Hendricks threw over a couple times while he was on first, and it looked as if Acuña did something to his midsection on a dive back to the bag. He was checked by a trainer while he was on second, but he stayed in. He got up slowly after diving home to score on Travis d'Arnaud's sacrifice fly, and then was replaced in the field in the bottom half. Acuña is off to a terrific start this year, batting .433 with seven homers and 16 RBIs heading into the series finale against the Cubs. The outfielder also had scored a major league-high 20 runs coming into the day. Atlanta has been hit hard by injuries early in the season. Pitchers Max Fried, Drew Smyly and Sean Newcomb and outfielders Cristian Pache and Ender Inciarte have been placed on the 10-day IL since Wednesday. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

.ATLANTA (AP) — Kung Fu Panda has made the opening day roster for the Atlanta Braves. The team made a flurry of moves Saturday to complete its 26-man group, most notably promoting nonroster infielder Pablo Sandoval to the big league roster. The 34-year-old Sandoval is a two-time All-Star and 2012 World Series MVP looking to revive his career in a bench role with the Braves. The portly switch-hitter earned his spot with a strong spring, hitting .429 with four RBIs in 35 at-bats. “Pablo speaks for himself, just the way he comes in, his professionalism, what he adds in clubhouse, the presence has, the respect he has from everybody,” manager Brian Snitker said. “And he can still hit. He's kind of what you're looking for. He’s a guy who can sit around and stay ready.” The Braves, who open the season Thursday at Philadelphia, also selected the contracts of two other nonroster players: infielder Ehire Adrianza and reliever Nate Jones. Former All-Stars Jake Lamb and Jason Kipnis were released,... [More]

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker expects to approach key pinch-hit situations with renewed confidence this season as he looks at the Braves' newly bolstered bench. More depth was added on Tuesday when the Braves finalized a $1 million, one-year contract with third baseman Jake Lamb that is not guaranteed. The signing adds another veteran bat to an already deep competition for bench spots in spring training. Lamb, a 2017 All-Star with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was with the Braves for their first full-squad workout and will compete for a bench spot. He could provide insurance for Austin Riley, who is expected to start at third base, but he was signed for his left-handed bat as a pinch-hitter. Snitker hopes Lamb can produce off the bench the way Matt Joyce in 2019 and Eric Hinske from 2010-12 were effective with their left-handed swings. “You get late in a game and you need a double-switch, he can be a very valuable asset much like Matt Joyce did a couple years ago,” Snitker said Tuesday. “He... [More]