MLB Player News

Contreras is not in the Cubs' lineup Friday against the Cardinals.

He'll give way to Miguel Montero with John Lackey on the mound. Contreras is inhabiting more of a timeshare with Montero than many fantasy owners thought would happen before the season. Contreras still has posted serviceable numbers for a catcher (.248/.321/.426 with five home runs and 24 RBI in 159 plate appearances), but he's falling short of lofty expectations.

Murphy (forearm) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, Nick Groke of The Denver Post reports.

Murphy, who has been sidelined since spring training with a hairline fracture in his forearm, caught in an extended spring training game for the first time since sustaining the injury. He's expected to catch in another extended spring game Thursday, and if all goes well, he'll head out on a rehab assignment with Albuquerque after taking Friday off. The Rockies haven't specified how many rehab games Murphy will play, but they'll likely play things by ear following each contest. He still appears to be on track to return to the big club in mid June.

Barnes is batting seventh and catching Thursday against the Cardinals, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

He'll again fill in for Yasmani Grandal as Brandon McCarthy takes the hill. Barnes has proved adept in the backup backstop role, batting .273/.385/.545 in 24 games.

Grandal is not in the Dodgers' lineup Thursday against the Cardinals, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The backstop will get a breather in the matinee, with Austin Barnes replacing him behind the plate. When he likely returns to action Friday, Grandal will look to continue his hot May, during which he scalded the baseball at a .337/.374/.523 pace with two home runs and 16 RBI in 91 plate appearances.

D'Arnaud is batting eighth and catching Thursday against the Brewers.

D'Arnaud was given a day off Wednesday after also getting a breather Monday. Considering his injury-filled past -- including a disabled list trip due to wrist issues earlier this month -- New York continues to limit the workload of its No. 1 backstop, who carries a .221/.294/.481 line with five home runs in 85 plate appearances.

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Brewers.

D'Arnaud has five hits over his past three starts, but he'll sit out of Wednesday's bout as the Mets continue to ease him back into regular action. Rene Rivera will assume catching duties for the evening.

Hedges is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs.

Outside of his two-hit game Tuesday night, Hedges has been scuffling at the plate over the past couple weeks, so he'll head to the bench for a day off. Luis Torrens will assume catching duties in his stead.

Rupp is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Andrew Knapp will take over behind the plate to catch for starter Aaron Nola. Rupp is hitless in his last six appearances (0-for-17) and has seen his average fall from .255 to .217 as a result. He does have three homers in May, but his 32.3 percent strikeout rate suggests a big rebound in batting average is unlikely.

Realmuto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Realmuto will get what looks like a breather, and it's well deserved -- he has started seven straight, with the last five starts coming on consecutive days. The 26-year-old isn't running as much as he did last year, but he's hitting and getting on base at a high clip, and he's on pace to best his counting totals from a year ago. He's one of the top fantasy options at the catcher position.

Mesoraco is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.

Tucker Barnhart will take over behind the plate following back-to-back starts by Mesoraco to open the series. Mesoraco has been scuffling at the plate, going hitless in his last four starts and batting .216/.333/.373 in May, but by all indications he's healthy after a hamstring scare near the middle of the month.