MLB Player News

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal (shoulder) is in the lineup Thursday for Game 5 against the Mets.

Grandal wasn't able to start in Game 4 as he was dealing with a minor shoulder injury, however with the season on the line it looks like the 26-year-old will get the start against the Mets on Thursday. He will hit sixth in the order and take over behind the plate.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said catcher Yasmani Grandal (shoulder) is "50-50" to play in Game 5 of the NLDS on Thursday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

A left shoulder injury, suffered in Monday's Game 3, kept Grandal on the bench for Game 4 of the series, though it may have been a blessing in disguise as Clayton Kershaw and A.J. Ellis worked well together in the victory. Grandal was available to pinch-hit Tuesday and figures to be again in that capacity Thursday if he isn't cleared to return to the lineup.

Yasmani Grandal is available to pinch-hit for the Dodgers in Tuesday's Game 4 of the NLDS, Eric Stephen of True Blue LA reports.

Grandal injured his left shoulder during Game 3 of the NLDS, however it doesn't appear to be a serious injury considering manager Don Mattingly did say he was available to hit if need be. A.J. Ellis will get the start behind the plate in his place and hit seventh in the order.

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis is not in the lineup for Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Mets on Saturday.

Ellis caught Clayton Kershaw on Friday night as he usually does, but he will take a seat in favor of Yasmani Grandal for this one.

Catcher Yasmani Grandal is in the lineup for Game 2 of the Dodgers' NLDS matchup with the Mets.

Grandal will start Saturday after giving way to A.J. Ellis in Game 1. He will hit seventh in the order against Mets starter Noah Syndergaard.

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt had surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee Tuesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Bethancourt missed the majority of the final two weeks in September with a lingering issue in this thumb, but it appears as if the catcher may have dealing with more than just that injury.

Barring any setbacks, Bethancourt should be ready to begin working out sometime in November -- a good sign considering he will likely compete for the starting catcher job in spring training.

Rockies catcher Tom Murphy (shoulder) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Giants, MLB.com reports.

Unsurprisingly, the Rockies will shut Murphy down after he strained his left shoulder in Saturday's game. Though Colorado is expected to bring Nick Hundley and Mike McKenry back next season, Murphy should be a candidate to contend for an Opening Day role with the Rockies in 2016 as the backup catcher. He's hit 23 homers and 27 doubles across three levels this season.

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt (thumb) isn't in the lineup for Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader with the Cardinals, Kevin McAlpin of 680 The Fan reports.

Bethancourt hasn't played since Thursday while dealing with the left thumb contusion. It's likely that the Braves will just give Ryan Lavarnway and A.J. Pierzynski the starts behind the plate for the doubleheader, allowing Bethancourt to get an early start on his offseason. He should be over the thumb injury in quick fashion.

Padres catcher Austin Hedges went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in a 2-1 loss to the Dodgers on Saturday.

Hedges is a defense-first catcher and his numbers show that thus far. In 133 at-bats, Hedges is hitting .165 with a dreadful .214 OBP. He also has very little power, with only three homers and two doubles all season. Hedges will be a good real-life baseball player for the Padres, but will have very little fantasy value in years to come.

Rockies catcher Tom Murphy left Saturday's game with an apparent left shoulder injury, MLB.com reports.

He hurt himself on a pickoff play, which he was thrown out on. Murphy was replaced by Dustin Garneau at catcher, and while the injury could mean that Murphy's 2015 season is over, he will be an intriguing sleeper candidate heading into 2016.