58 Jacob Stallings C

Stallings enters the 2021 campaign as the Pirates' clear-cut starter behind the plate, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

The 31-year-old, who slashed .248/.326/.376 in 143 plate appearances last year, led the NL in innings caught (345.1) while finishing second in Gold Glove voting. Stallings' .702 OPS was slightly above the league average (.695) for catchers. He's never caught more than 700 innings in a season, but he's ready for the challenge. "My body really held up well," he said Friday. "I felt good. So I was really encouraged about that. I don't think anything will change." Newly acquired catchers Michael Perez and Tony Wolters are expected to compete for the backup job.

Stallings agreed to a one-year contract with the Pirates on Friday, avoiding arbitration.

The 31-year-old backstop hit .248/.326/.376 with three home runs in 143 plate appearances last year. He was also a strong defensive catcher, so he should be the primary backstop in Pittsburgh this season.

The Pirates placed Stallings on the 7-day concussion injured list Sunday.

Stallings isn't believed to have a lengthy history of concussions, so the expectation is that he'll be fully cleared to resume baseball activities early in the offseason. He'll wrap up the 2019 campaign with a .248/.326/.376 slash line with three home runs and 18 RBI across 143 plate appearances over 42 games.

Stallings is not in Thursday's lineup against the Cubs.

He will head to the bench in the day game following a night game. Stallings is hitting .160 with two home runs in 50 at-bats this month. John Ryan Murphy will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Stallings hit a walk-off homer in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Cubs.

He was slashing just .140/.224/.279 in 49 plate appearances in September prior to Tuesday. Stallings is batting .252 overall, however, and continues to provide Pittsburgh with stellar defense.

Stallings is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

John Ryan Murphy will check in behind the dish in place of Stallings, who is presumably receiving a routine maintenance day. Stallings has gone 4-for-26 with three doubles, three walks, four RBI and a run scored over his last 10 games.

Stallings is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.

Stallings will receive a breather in the first game of the twin bill and figures to rejoin the lineup for the nightcap. John Ryan Murhpy starts behind the plate in the matinee, batting ninth.

Stallings is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Reds.

Stallings has been the clear primary catcher for the Pirates this season, starting two-thirds of the team's 48 games thus far. His .267/.245/.386 slash line is perfectly adequate for a backstop. John Ryan Murphy starts in his place Wednesday.

Stallings is out of the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader in Cincinnati.

John Ryan Murphy will be behind the plate for the first game of the series, but Stallings should serve as the Pirates' starting catcher in Game 2. Through eight appearances in September, Stallings has gone 4-for-27 with a home run, two doubles, three RBI and two runs.

Stallings is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Stallings started the past four games for the Buccos and will receive a breather after going 2-for-13 with two doubles and two RBI during that stretch. John Ryan Murphy takes over behind the plate Sunday for Pittsburgh.

Stallings is not in Sunday's lineup against the Reds.

Stallings homered in Saturday's game, but he'll get a breather after starting the first two games of the series. John Ryan Murphy will take over behind the plate and will bat ninth.

Sattlings went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Reds.

He took Anthony DeSclafani deep in the fourth inning, but it was the last run the Bucs would score on the night. Stallings is slashing a strong .293/.376/.415 with two homers and 13 RBI in 27 games this season.

Stallings isn't in the lineup for Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader against the Reds.

Stallings went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts during the matinee, and he'll take a seat for Game 2. John Ryan Murphy will take his place behind the dish.

Stallings is not in Thursday's lineup against the Cubs.

Stallings had been swinging a hot bat all season, but he has a 36.4 percent strikeout rate, albeit with an 18.2 percent walk rate, over his last five games. John Ryan Murphy is starting at catcher and hitting ninth.

Stallings is not in the lineup Sunday against the Brewers.

Stallings has a 1.075 OPS over his past 13 games and went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a walk Saturday, but he'll take a seat for Sunday's afternoon game. John Ryan Murphy will start behind the plate for the Buccos.

Stallings is not starting Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.

Stallings will retreat to the bench for Game 2 of Thursday's twin bill after catching all nine innings in Game 1 while going 2-for-4 with an RBI. John Ryan Murphy is starting at catcher in this one.

Stallings went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI in Saturday's 12-5 victory over the Brewers.

The home run was his first in 2020, after Stallings hit six homers in 191 at-bats as a rookie in 2019. He's also collected two hits in each of his last three straight starts, pushing his batting average to .313. Stallings, who went unclaimed on waivers last season, continues to see the bulk of playing time ahead of John Ryan Murphy.

Stallings is not in the lineup Friday against the Brewers.

Stallings started the past five games and went 6-for-14 during that stretch, but he'll receive a day off for Friday's series opener. John Ryan Murphy will take over behind the plate and bat ninth for Pittsburgh.

Stallings is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Stallings is getting a routine breather after starting at catcher each of the last two days and going a combined 3-for-5 with three walks at the plate. John Ryan Murphy will be behind the dish in the series finale.

Stallings is out of the lineup Thursday against the Twins.

Stallings will sit for the second time in three days, but he's picked up three starts in the Pirates' last five contests and still looks like the team's preferred backstop. John Ryan Murphy will get a turn behind the plate in Thursday's series finale, catching for JT Brubaker in the latter's first MLB start.