35 Elias Diaz C

Diaz will start at catcher and bat sixth Sunday against the Mariners, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

After going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored Friday in his Rockies debut, Diaz will re-enter the lineup in the series finale while lefty Justus Sheffield takes the hill for the Mariners. Tony Wolters is still locked in as the Rockies' top catcher against right-handed pitching, but Diaz may have leapfrogged Drew Butera as the team's primary backstop versus southpaws.

Diaz will begin the season on the Rockies' 30-man roster, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Diaz was late in reporting to camp due to COVID-19 protocol, but he was able to return and impressed enough to secure the backup catcher job behind Tony Wolters. Diaz appeared in a career-high 102 games with the Pirates last season, slashing .241/.296/.307 with two home runs and 28 RBI.

Diaz has yet to report to camp due to COVID-19 protocols, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

There's been no indication the Diaz has tested positive for the virus, but the process involved in clearing players to join camp can be a lengthy one. Diaz is in a battle for playing time behind the plate, and the lost practice time can't help, but he should still have at least a bit of time to make his case if he's cleared to join his teammates soon.

Diaz and Drew Butera were making an argument for the Rockies to break camp with three catchers due to their impressive spring performances, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

While Diaz and Butera are in camp on minor-league contracts, they outperformed Tony Wolters and Dom Nunez, who are on the 40-man roster. Diaz hit .429 with a double, a triple, two walks and one strikeout in 21 spring at-bats. He also saw the most playing time of the four candidates. Wolters' spot as the primary catcher would seem to be safe, but Nunez, who hit .200 with six strikeouts in 15 spring at-bats, has minor-league options remaining, so he could open the year at Triple-A.

Diaz (knee) is in the lineup for Saturday's spring opener against the Diamondbacks.

Diaz ended last season dealing with the knee injury, but he has completed his recovery and is ready to take the field Saturday. He will start behind the plate and hit eighth Saturday.

Diaz (knee) signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Monday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Diaz became a free agent after he was non-tendered by Pittsburgh. He appeared in 101 contests for the Pirates in 2019, slashing .241/.296/.307 with two homers and 28 RBI before being shut down at the end of September due to a knee injury. The veteran backstop figures to battle for a spot on the 25-man roster with Tony Wolters and Dom Nunez.

Diaz (knee) was non-tendered by the Pirates on Monday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Diaz took the field in 101 games a season ago, hitting .241 with two homers and 28 RBI. His injury history could scare some teams off, but he may still receive a big-league offer after being cut loose by Pittsburgh.

Diaz (knee) has been shut down for the remainder of the season, Nubyjas Wilborn of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Diaz has been sidelined since Saturday with a right knee injury and simply won't have enough time to return, leaving Jacob Stallings and Steve Baron to finish out the season as Pittsburgh's primary catchers. Across 101 games with the Pirates this season, Diaz compiled a .241/.296/.307 slash line with two home runs and 28 RBI.

Diaz (knee) is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Cubs.

Diaz hasn't played since Saturday due to a right knee injury and it's unclear whether he'll return before the end of the season. Steve Baron is starting behind the dish and hitting eighth Wednesday.

Diaz (knee) remains on the bench Tuesday against the Cubs.

Diaz left Saturday's game against the Brewers with a knee issue and hasn't appeared since. It's not clear when he's expected to return. Jacob Stallings gets the start behind the plate Tuesday.

Diaz (knee) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Diaz left Saturday's game with a right knee injury, and the setback will prevent him from starting Sunday. The extent of Diaz's injury is uncertain, so it remains to be seen if he will be back in the lineup for the Pirates' next game Tuesday against the Cubs.

Diaz exited Saturday's contest early with a right knee injury, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Diaz exited the game in the fourth inning due to the injury and Steve Baron took over behind the plate. The extent of the injury remains unknown for the time being, though if Diaz is forced to miss more time, Baron would serve as the backup catcher behind Jacob Stallings.

Diaz left Saturday's game with an apparent injury to his right leg.

He injured himself reaching for a pitch while catching. Diaz needed assistance walking off the field but was able to put pressure on his injured right leg. Steve Baron replaced him behind the plate.

Diaz went 1-for-4 with a walk, double, RBI and two runs scored Thursday against the Mariners.

Diaz enjoyed a productive day at the dish, first doubling in Colin Moran in the second inning. He later came around to score in the same frame before crossing the plate again two innings later. Despite the departure of Francisco Cervelli (finger), Diaz has endured a disappointing season by hitting .243/.298/.309 across 330 plate appearances.

Diaz's solo homer ignited a ninth-inning rally in a 6-5 win over the Marlins on Wednesday.

With just two home runs to his credit, the catcher's offensive production has fallen off a cliff since 2018. An undisclosed viral infection delayed his season's start and it's possible that he never fully recovered. Whatever the case, Diaz's disappointing campaign includes a slash line of .254/.306/.325 in 291 plate appearances and his platoon role for 2020 is not guaranteed.

Diaz went 0-for-4 with a strikeout against Washington on Thursday.

His struggles both in the field and at the plate have proven perplexing. Even in the absence of former starting catcher Francisco Cervelli, Diaz has ceded time to Jacob Stallings. After posting a .286 batting average with 10 homers and .792 OPS in 252 at-bats last season, Diaz has hit .243 with one homer and .606 OPS in 251 at-bats this year. He's gone just 4-for-27 with no extra-base hits in August.

Diaz (head) is starting behind the dish and hitting eighth Thursday against the Nationals.

He missed a couple games after getting hit by a bat on his catcher's mask in Monday's game, but is healthy enough to catch a full game against Washington. In related news, Francisco Cervelli (concussion) was released by the Pirates earlier in the day, so it is officially Diaz and Jacob Stalling's show behind the plate going forward.

Diaz (head) is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Nationals.

He departed Monday's game after getting hit by a bat on his catcher's mask, and while he appeared off the bench in Tuesday's game, he will sit to start Wednesday's contest. Jacob Stallings will start behind the dish, hitting seventh.

Diaz (head) stepped in behind the plate to catch for Felipe Vazquez in the ninth inning of Tuesday's win over Washington.

He did not start after getting hit in the mask by a swing and leaving Monday's game, but the fact that Diaz was available to catch a day later means he passed tests for a concussion. The 28-year-old Diaz has underwhelmed with the bat after a strong 2018 season, and he's been downright bad since the break, posting a .456 OPS in 25 games.

Diaz left Monday's game after getting hit by a bat in the mask while catching, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

The Pirates released no details as to the injury following the game. Francisco Cervelli, who is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis, could be recalled in the event Diaz is forced to the IL.