MLB Player News

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

After alternating the starts at catcher between Ruiz and Drew Millas in their first 12 games of the season, the Nationals broke that trend this weekend. Ruiz ended up starting behind the dish Friday and Saturday, going 1-for-5 with a double and a run between those games. Though he'll give way to Millas on Sunday, Ruiz's back-to-back starts could signal that the Nationals may be willing to hand him a larger share of the workload.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Realmuto is available for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks only in an emergency while contending with a sore foot, Ty Daubert of PhilliesNation.com reports.

Thomson indicated that Realmuto wasn't in line for a day off Sunday, but the Phillies are choosing to hold him out after the backstop took a foul ball off his foot during Saturday's 4-3 win. Rafael Marchan will handle catching duties in the series finale, but Realmuto could be ready to step back in behind the plate for Monday's game against the Cubs.

Hicks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Hicks had started the Marlins' last four games, but he'll take a seat against Tarik Skubal. He'll be joined on the bench by fellow left-handed hitters Graham Pauley and Owen Caissie.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.

Alvarez started the previous six games and went 6-for-19 (.316) with three walk and a homer during that span, and he'll get a well-deserved day off. Luis Torrens will step in behind the plate to do the catching for righty Freddy Peralta.

Realmuto is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Realmuto will head to the bench for Sunday's series finale after going 1-for-8 with a double and four strikeouts in the first two games of the series. Rafael Marchan will take over behind the plate and bat eighth.

Del Castillo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

The left-handed hitter had been in the lineup at designated hitter or catcher in Arizona's last four games, but he'll hit the bench Sunday against righty Andrew Painter. At least until the Diamondbacks get one or two of Gabriel Moreno (back), Carlos Santana (adductor), Pavin Smith (elbow) and Lourdes Gurriel (knee) back from the injured list, Del Castillo should have a fairly clear path to a strong-side platoon role.

McCann will start at catcher and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Phillies.

With Gabriel Moreno (back) expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, McCann is poised to see extra work while splitting time behind the plate with Adrian Del Castillo. After producing a .755 OPS in 42 games for the Diamondbacks in 2025, McCann has struggled out of the gate this season, going 2-for-16 with a 1:6 BB:K in seven contests.

Stephenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

Stephenson went 1-for-5 with three walks across the first two games of the series and will take a seat for Sunday's finale. P.J. Higgins will step in behind the plate to catch for lefty Andrew Abbott.

Bailey is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Daniel Susac will get the call behind the plate for the series finale while Bailey rests for the day game after a night game. Bailey has shouldered one of the heavier workloads among all catchers so far this season, making starts in 13 of the Giants' first 16 games.

Del Castillo went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Phillies.

Del Castillo, who was making his first start of the season behind the plate, had a run-scoring single in the first inning, giving him hits in three straight contests. He's in line for more catching work after the Diamondbacks announced that Gabriel Moreno (back) was headed for the injured list. Del Castillo's bat is ahead of his defensive skills, so it's unclear if the plan is to use him as the primary backup to James McCann or reach down to Triple-A Reno for a third catcher. Not calling up another backstop might make it too risky to use Del Castillo as a designated hitter, which is where he made his first three starts before Saturday.