VICTOR CARATINI NEWS

Sitting in first game of twin bill Caratini is out of the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Cardinals.

Impact Willson Contreras is catching the first game of the twin bill, but he'll presumably be deployed as the Cubs' designated hitter in the nightcap or sit out the contest entirely. As a result, expect Caratini to draw a start in the second game.

AUGUST 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Out of Sunday's lineup Caratini is not in Sunday's lineup against the Brewers.

Impact He is hitting .304/.333/.348 in 23 at-bats this month. Kyle Schwarber will start at designated hitter while Steven Souza gets the start in left field.

AUGUST 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Friday's lineup Caratini is out of the lineup Friday versus the Brewers.

Impact Caratini started the past five games between catcher and designated hitter, and he'll receive a day off after going 6-for-17 in that stretch. Willson Contreras will start behind the plate while Jason Kipnis serves as the designated hitter Friday.

AUGUST 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Victor Caratini’s pitch framing is a work of art for the Cubs (Video) Yu Darvish is dealing on Thursday night, and Victor Caratini has played a role in that success Darvish has arguably been the Cubs' best pitc...

AUGUST 14, 2020 • FANSIDED.COM

Royals beat Cubs 13-2, stop 6-game slide

Whit Merrifield, Maikel Franco and Jorge Soler homered, and the Kansas City Royals stopped a six-game slide with a 13-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs

AUGUST 7, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

On bench Tuesday Caratini is not starting Tuesday against the Royals.

Impact Caratini started seven of the first eight games for the Cubs but posted a poor .541 OPS. He's since gone on to sit for three straight. Kyle Schwarber will be the designated hitter Tuesday, with Steven Souza getting a start in left field.

AUGUST 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Monday Caratini is not in the lineup Monday against the Royals.

Impact Although Caratini managed to carve out playing time as the Cubs' designated hitter to begin the season, he'll sit Monday for the second consecutive contest. Kris Bryant (illness) will return to the starting lineup in left field while Kyle Schwarber will serve as the designated hitter.

AUGUST 3, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Monday Caratini isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.

Impact Caratini had a spot in the starting lineup over each of the first three games with the addition of the designated hitter in the National League, but he'll play a bench role in the team's first road contest Monday. Kyle Schwarber will serve as the designated hitter with David Bote entering the starting nine at third base, batting seventh.

JULY 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Chatwood dominates, Cubs hit 3 HRs in 9-1 romp over Brewers

Tyler Chatwood pitched three-hit ball over six innings, Willson Contreras homered and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 to take two of three in their opening series

JULY 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting in left again Schwarber is starting in left field and batting fourth in Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Impact That's three straight starts in left field to begin the season for Schwarber. Manager David Ross talked before the year about how he didn't view Schwarber as the team's DH, and so far, he's sticking to that. Victor Caratini and Willson Contreras have alternated between catching and serving as DH so far in 2020.

JULY 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Will DH Sunday Caratini is the designated hitter and batting eighth in Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Impact That makes two starts at DH for Caratini during the weekend series, with an appearance behind the plate as Yu Darvish's personal catcher in between. It looks like rookie manager David Ross is going to try to get both Caratini and Willson Contreras into the lineup most days, with one catching and the other serving as DH. The Cubs elected to keep Josh Phegley on the 30-man roster as a third catcher, so they can afford to deploy Contreras and Caratini at DH and still be covered behind the plate.

JULY 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Starting behind the plate Saturday Caratini is the starting catcher and batting seventh in Saturday's game against the Brewers.

Impact After serving as the designated hitter in Friday's opener, Caratini moves behind the plate to serve as Yu Darvish's personal catcher, while Willson Contreras flips spots with him. It's encouraging to see Caratini start on consecutive days to begin the season, and it seems that he and Contreras could alternate between catching and serving as DH throughout the 60-game season to keep both players fresh.

JULY 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Homers out of nine hole Happ went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 3-0 win over the Brewers.

Impact Happ homered in his first at-bat, just as he did back on Opening Day 2018. This time he was down in the No. 9 spot in the order behind Nico Hoerner, but it's encouraging that he was in the lineup in center field right away with Kyle Schwarber in left and Victor Caratini at DH.

JULY 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Serving as designated hitter Caratini will bat seventh as the designated hitter in Friday's season opener against the Brewers.

Impact Caratini would seemingly be good enough to start behind the plate for several teams, as he's coming off a year in which he hit .266/.348/.447 in 95 games, but the presence of Willson Contreras means he won't fill that role for the Cubs any time soon. The addition of the universal designated hitter this season offers a potential pathway to at-bats for Caratini, though it will take more than just one game to determine how often he'll fill that role.

JULY 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting on Opening Day Almora isn't in the Cubs' Opening Day lineup Friday against the Brewers.

Impact Ian Happ gets the nod in center field, with Kyle Schwarber in left and Victor Caratini serving as the designated hitter. Exactly how the playing time breaks down at those positions may take a few games to sort out.

JULY 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Column: Fake baseball fans, and the 'roar' of the 'crowd'

The fans aren't in the ballpark for the 2020 baseball season, but you'll be able to hear them anyway

JULY 23, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Could see more time at first Caratini is an option to see regular time at first base early in the season with Anthony Rizzo (back) uncertain for the start of the year, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Caratini has primarily worked as a catcher for the Cubs, though he did appear in 23 games at first last year. The 26-year-old has been tabbed as the personal catcher for Yu Darvish, so he'll still get time behind the plate, but the team may need to use him more at first if Rizzo can't go in the early going. Caratini has looked pretty good at the plate when he's been able to play regularly, so fantasy managers should take note if the playing time is there.

JULY 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo frustrated by continuing back trouble

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is tracking pitches and doing strength and stability exercises while he waits for his ailing back to calm down

JULY 15, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Good start to camp Contreras homered in Tuesday's intrasquad game and now leads the Cubs with three home runs during summer camp, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact 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.

JULY 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

4 takeaways from Chicago Cubs camp, including Willson Contreras’ support of Victor Caratini and his appreciation for White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal All-Star catcher Willson Contreras supports Cubs manager David Ross' plan to have backup Victor Caratini catch Yu Darvish's starts.

JULY 13, 2020 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Cubs Roster 2020: Victor Caratini, catcher We go behind the plate for the latest feature on the Cubs 2020 roster, Victor Caratini.

MARCH 11, 2020 • NBC.COM

Caratini hits 2 HRs off deGrom, Cubs beat Mets 4-1 for sweep

Caratini hits 2 HRs off deGrom, Cubs beat Mets 4-1 for sweep

AUGUST 30, 2019

Caratini helps rally Cubs past Cardinals 9-4

Pinch-hitter Victor Caratini hit a tiebreaking bases-loaded double in Chicago's four-run sixth inning and the Cubs rallied to beat the St. L...

JUNE 9, 2019

Cubs activate C Victor Caratini, sidelined by hand injury

The Cubs activated backup catcher Victor Caratini off the injury list for the final game of their series against the Reds

MAY 16, 2019

Cubs catcher Caratini goes on IL with hand injury

Chicago Cubs catcher Victor Caratini sidelined by broken left hand, need surgery

APRIL 12, 2019