Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras isn't starting on Wednesday as the Cubs take on the Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Graham Ashcraft. Contreras is batting .234 with a .349 on-base percentage, 22 home runs and four stolen bases in 487 plate appearances for the Cubs this year. Instead, it'll be P.J. Higgins hitting seventh and starting behind the plate. Higgins is batting .227 with a .303 on-base percentage and six home runs in 224 plate appearances this season. The 29-year-old could be worth a look as a streaming option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues where on-base percentage is part of the scoring.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras is not in the starting lineup on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds. Contreras appears to just be getting a normal day of rest to start the weekend series against Cincinnati. The 30-year-old All-Star backstop has played in just three games in September due to injury and has gone 2-for-12 with a double, and four strikeouts. Overall, he's slashing .243/.346/.464 with an .810 OPS, 21 homers, 54 RBI, 63 runs scored and four stolen bases in 407 at-bats. Yan Gomes is behind the dish and is hitting seventh on Friday against Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft. Gomes won't be a very attractive low-cost DFS option. He's gone 2-for-22 (.091) with no homers, two RBI and seven strikeouts in his last six games.

The Chicago Cubs reinstated catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) from the injured list on Tuesday and also reinstated outfielder Seiya Suzuki from the paternity list. In corresponding moves, the Cubs optioned Jared Young to the minors and designated outfielder Michael Hermosillo for assignment. Contreras is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third against Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler on Tuesday, while Suzuki isn't in the starting lineup. Contreras might be eased back into his role as the regular catcher, but the 30-year-old should be returned to starting fantasy lineups on Tuesday. He has 21 home runs and 54 RBI on the year in 395 at-bats for the Cubbies. Suzuki should eventually return to an everyday role in the outfield down the stretch.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) has progressed to light agility work in a running progression. Contreras sprained his left ankle recently and was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sept. 6. The Cubs have no reason to rush the 30-year-old All-Star back in a lost season, but it's good news that he's moving in the right direction. Skipper David Ross said that Contreras is likely around a week from returning to the team. Yan Gomes will continue to do most of the catching, while P.J. Higgins will occasionally mix in. Contreras made his third All-Star team this year and is currently hitting .246/.351/.471 with an .822 OPS, 21 home runs, 54 RBI, 63 runs scored and four stolen bases in 107 games. Keep him stashed everywhere.

An MRI exam on Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) on Wednesday confirmed that he's dealing with a left ankle sprain. Contreras was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to return when he's first eligible on Sept. 13. The 30-year-old has been one of the better catching options for fantasy managers this year, hitting .246/.351/.471 with an .822 OPS, 21 home runs, 54 RBI, 63 runs scored and four stolen bases in 462 plate appearances over 107 games played. However, fantasy managers may not get all that much production out of him the rest of the way in September. In his absence, Yan Gomes and P.J. Higgins will split playing time behind the plate in Chicago.

The Chicago Cubs placed catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain on Tuesday and reinstated Michael Hermosillo from the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. The Cubs also designated Nicholas Padilla for assignment. Contreras' injured list stint is retroactive to Sept. 3. The All-Star backstop missed the series against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend with more pain in his sprained left ankle. With the 30-year-old on the shelf, Yan Gomes and P.J. Higgins will share catching duties for Chicago. Contreras has been a no-brainer must-start at the weak catching position in fantasy this year, as he's slashed .246/.351/.471 with an .822 OPS, 21 home runs, 54 RBI, 63 runs scored and four stolen bases in 395 at-bats.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) is still absent from the starting lineup on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. The 30-year-old backstop has now missed four straight games with left ankle discomfort. It still looks like he'll avoid a trip to the injured list but it's anyone's guess as to when he'll return to the lineup. P.J. Higgins is starting in his place and batting seventh vs. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas. Fantasy managers should still consider Contreras day-to-day.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Contreras left the game early on Tuesday with left ankle soreness, and he'll get another day to rest. Consider him day-to-day for now. Before leaving the contest early, he at least hit a solo home run for his fantasy managers. It's an ongoing issue for the 30-year-old backstop, as he missed four games last week with the same injury. Yan Gomes will do the catching on Wednesday and will hit seventh against Blue Jays right-hander Mitch White. Gomes will be a low-upside DFS play at the position. He's hitting .217/.247/.338 with six homers, 20 RBI and 18 runs scored in his 207 at-bats for the Cubs this year.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (foot, ankle) exited Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays in the sixth inning with left foot/ankle soreness, per the Chicago Tribune's Meghan Montemurro. Contreras was pinch-hit for in the top of the inning, but went 1-for-2 with a solo home run before exiting. He will get treatment Wednesday and the Cubs have an off day on Thursday, so hopefully, he will have enough time to rest. The 30-year-old backstop has been a solid fantasy option at a weak position once again this season, slashing .246/.351/.471 with 21 HR, 54 RBI, and four stolen bases. Fantasy managers should keep an eye out for more updates in the coming days.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) will return to the lineup Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Contreras missed the last four games due to stiffness in his left ankle, which was caused by a tweak during the Field of Dreams game. He is ready to go tonight, though, and will catch and bat second against Freddy Peralta and the Brewers. The stud backstop has a tremendous .248/.357/.472 slash line to go along with 20 homers and even four swipes. Get him back in your lineup right away.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) remains out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals. It will be his fourth straight game starting on the bench due to left ankle stiffness. Fantasy managers should continue to view the All-Star backstop as day-to-day. P.J. Higgins is behind the dish again and is hitting sixth on Thursday against Cardinals right-hander Dakota Hudson. Higgins is just 6-for-40 (.150) with two home runs, four RBI, three runs scored and 16 strikeouts in 14 games this month, and he's hitting .242 on the season with six long balls and 20 RBI in his 128 at-bats. There should be better DFS plays on Thursday at the position.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) remains out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. Contreras is dealing with left ankle stiffness and didn't play in either game of a doubleheader against St. Louis on Tuesday. For now, fantasy managers should consider the 30-year-old All-Star catcher as day-to-day. With Contreras out again Wednesday, Yan Gomes will do the catching and will hit seventh against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas. Gomes is a low-upside DFS option at the position to begin with, and he's also hitting just .188 (3-for-16) with a homer, three RBI and a run scored in five games over the last two weeks.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) is out of the lineup for Game 2 of the doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. Contreras' left ankle felt stiff when he woke up Tuesday morning, but he'll be available off the bench. The fact that he's available off the bench means his injury probably isn't very serious. Consider the 30-year-old All-Star catcher to be day-to-day. P.J. Higgins is behind the dish in Game 2 and is hitting seventh against Cardinals right-hander Jake Woodford. Higgins will be a low-upside DFS option at the position. He's hitting .246 with six home runs, 20 RBI and 17 runs scored in 122 at-bats for the Cubs this year.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras isn't in the team's lineup on Tuesday for the first game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals and right-handed starter Adam Wainwright. The 30-year-old is enjoying a strong season at the plate for both the Cubs and fantasy managers alike, hitting .248 with a .357 on-base percentage, 20 home runs, and four stolen bases in 446 plate appearances. It'll be Yan Gomes starting behind the plate and batting seventh against Wainwright instead. Gomes is hitting .228 with a .257 on-base percentage and six home runs in 206 plate appearances for Chicago this year. Fantasy managers in search of streaming help are probably better off looking elsewhere.

The Tampa Bay Rays are in the mix, along with the New York Mets, for Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, according to sources. Contreras is a possible fallback option for the San Diego Padres, too, if they cannot land Washington Nationals superstar outfielder Juan Soto. The rebuilding Cubs are almost certain to deal Contreras before Tuesday's deadline, but the Mets may now have competition for his services. The 30-year-old backstop made his third All-Star team this year and is currently hitting .252/.365/.453 with an .818 OPS, 14 home runs, 38 RBI, 51 runs scored and even three stolen bases in 86 games. Contreras will really help a contending team both offensively and defensively if he's brought on board.

The San Diego Padres reportedly are interested in trading for Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Padres are involved in conversations about Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. He recently removed everything Cubs-related from his Instagram account. The 30-year-old is one of the best hitting catchers in the game and should produce for a solid Padres lineup that is expected to have star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (wrist) back soon. Contreras is slashing .252/.369/.460 with 14 home runs, 37 RBI, 52 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 366 plate appearances in 2022. Stay tuned.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras has removed everything Cubs-related from his Instagram account. Contreras has been mentioned as a trade candidate all year, and with the deadline coming next Tuesday, there's a chance he's played his last game in a Cubs uniform. The New York Mets have been linked heavily to Contreras with James McCann still sidelined due to injury. They're currently rolling with Tomas Nido and Patrick Mazeika behind the plate. If Contreras is dealt before Tuesday, Yan Gomes would become Chicago's primary catcher. Contreras, who made the All-Star team for the third time in his career, is one of the best hitting catchers in the game and would receive a fantasy boost with a move to a contender like the Mets. Stay tuned.

According to an article from Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation, the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets reportedly "have had ongoing discussions about a potential trade package for catcher Willson Contreras and relief pitcher David Robertson that would see New York send multiple top prospects to Chicago." Contreras has, so far, enjoyed a strong season at the plate, batting .258 with a .374 on-base percentage, 14 home runs, and three stolen bases in 353 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Robertson has pitched to a 1.83 ERA, a 3.25 FIP, 50 strikeouts, 19 walks, and 14 saves in 39.1 innings spanning 35 appearances for the Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs have not yet offered catcher Willson Contreras a contract extension, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Contreras has stated that he would "love to stay" with the Cubs, but he is set to become a free agent after this season, so it's beginning to look increasingly likely that he'll have a new home by 2023, if not sooner. The 30-year-old has spent the entirety of his seven-year MLB career with the Cubs. Over 78 games this year, he's slashing .253/.366/.455 with 13 home runs, 35 RBI and 48 runs.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (hamstring) is not in the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Fantasy managers should consider Contreras day-to-day for now after he left Monday's game early with a hamstring injury. When on the field, the 30-year-old has been a must-start, as he's slashing .274/.392/.498 with an .890 OPS, 13 home runs, 35 RBI, 46 runs scored and even three stolen bases in 259 at-bats at the weakest position in fantasy. Yan Gomes is doing the catching on Tuesday and will hit seventh against Brewers right-hander Jason Alexander. Gomes is a low-upside DFS option who has one hit in his last 18 at-bats. He's hitting just .214/.231/.321 with three home runs and nine RBI on the season in 43 games.