MLB Player News
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Miguel Amaya C | CHC
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Slugs homer, plates five
Amaya went 2-for-3 with a homer, a double, five RBI and an additional run scored in Monday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins.
The 26-year-old went yard for the fourth time this season with a three-run homer off Miami starter Edward Cabrera in the fourth. Amaya then returned in the sixth inning to knot the game at 6-6 with a two-RBI double, his ninth two-bagger of the season. Although Amaya is not the everyday catcher in Chicago, he has been a solid contributor at the plate when playing with a .287/.323/.529 slash line through 94 plate appearances.
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Patrick Bailey C | SF
Giants' Patrick Bailey: Absent from lineup again Monday
Bailey is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus the Royals.
It's the second straight day and the fourth time over the last eight contests that Bailey has yielded to Sam Huff at catcher. Bailey did deliver a game-tying, pinch-hit single in the eighth inning Sunday against the Athletics, so there does not appear to be anything wrong with him physically. The switch-hitting backstop has had a dreadful season at the plate, sporting a .489 OPS with a 31.8 percent strikeout rate.
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Carson Kelly C | CHC
Cubs' Carson Kelly: Getting night off
Kelly is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
Kelly had started at catcher or designated hitter in five of the Cubs' last six games, but he'll get a breather as Chicago opens its series in Miami. Miguel Amaya will get the nod behind the plate and Moises Ballesteros will serve as the Cubs' DH on Monday.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Goes yard Sunday
Smith went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run during Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Angels.
Smith swatted a game-tying three-run home run with two outs in the seventh inning, but his efforts weren't enough to avoid the sweep. Smith also walked twice. In his last 15 appearances, Smith is 18-for-47 (.383) with nine RBI, seven runs scored and an 11:7 BB:K.
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Liam Hicks C | MIA
Marlins' Liam Hicks: Goes yard Sunday
Hicks went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 5-1 win versus Tampa Bay.
The Miami backstop stretched the lead to 5-1 with a 370-foot home run off Rays starter Shane Baz in the sixth inning. With this two-hit performance, Hicks is now riding a five-game hit streak over which he's batted .438 (7-for-16). The Marlins have been trying to find ways to work Hicks' bat into the lineup more often, as he's slashing .282/.352/.487 with four homers and 20 RBI through 90 plate appearances.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Braves' Sean Murphy: Out of lineup again Sunday
Murphy is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Boston.
Murphy is sitting for a second straight game while the red-hot Drake Baldwin gets another start at catcher. Prior to Sunday, the pair had alternated starts behind the plate for each of Atlanta's previous eight contests. Baldwin has made it difficult for manager Brian Snitker to take his bat out of the lineup -- through 11 games in May, the rookie catcher is batting .556 (15-for-27) with three homers and eight RBI.
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J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: Getting rest Sunday
Realmuto is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh.
Realmuto will begin on the bench after starting each of the previous two days and going 1-for-7 with an RBI in that span. Rafael Marchan will get the start behind the plate in Realmuto's stead Sunday.
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Hunter Goodman RF | COL
Rockies' Hunter Goodman: Plates four runs in victory
Goodman went 3-for-6 with a home run, a double, two total runs and four total RBI in a 14-12 win against the Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Goodman smashed a two-run homer to left field in the first inning and added a two-run single in the sixth. The 25-year-old backstop has been swinging a hot stick of late, batting .429 (15-for-35) with two homers, eight runs and 11 RBI over his past eight games. Goodman has emerged as one of the league's better offensive catchers this season, and he ranks second at the position with 29 RBI while slashing .300/.354/.506 with seven long balls through 43 contests.
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Drake Baldwin C | ATL
Braves' Drake Baldwin: Remains hot with homer Saturday
Baldwin went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run against Boston in a loss Saturday.
Baldwin hit one of three Atlanta homers off Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito, slugging a 416-foot two-run shot in the third inning. The rookie catcher has been scorching at the plate of late -- over his past four games, he's batting a sizzling .625 (10-for-16) with two home runs and five RBI. Baldwin's hot stretch extends even further -- through 11 games in May, he's batting .556 (15-for-27) with three long balls and eight RBI. His performance has led to Baldwin moving into a timeshare with Sean Murphy behind the plate, as the pair has alternated starts for Atlanta's past eight games.