MLB Player News
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Idle Friday
Smith isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
After collecting a base hit in each of the Dodgers' first three regular-season games while drawing five walks, Smith will get a breather Friday. His absence will allow Austin Barnes to make his first start of the year behind the plate while batting ninth.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Sitting out Friday
Moreno is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.
Moreno started Opening Day and reached base three times while scoring a pair of runs. However, he will yield to Jose Herrera for the second game of the series as Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo looks to get one of his reserves some work early in the season.
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Liam Hicks C | MIA
Marlins' Liam Hicks: First big-league start Friday
Hicks is starting at catcher and batting seventh in Friday's contest versus the Pirates.
After Nick Fortes got the call behind the plate in Thursday's opener, Hicks will do the catching Friday in what will be his major-league debut. The 25-year-old was the second pick in the Rule 5 draft over the offseason.
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Nick Fortes C | TB
Marlins' Nick Fortes: Sitting out Friday
Fortes is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.
Fortes started Thursday's opener and in his last plate appearance was awarded a triple on a ball Oneil Cruz misplayed in center field. He'll begin the second game of the series on the bench as Liam Hicks makes his major-league debut.
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Martin Maldonado C | SD
Padres' Martin Maldonado: Added to roster
The Padres selected Maldonado's contract from Triple-A El Paso prior to Thursday's 7-4 win over Atlanta. Maldonado was used off the bench and struck out in his lone plate appearance.
Maldonado secured his spot on the Opening Day roster as a backup catcher over Luis Campusano, who was optioned to Triple-A over the weekend. Elias Diaz received the nod behind the dish in Thursday's opener and is expected to dominate the playing time at catcher this season, with Maldonado likely being limited to one or two starts per week.
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Jacob Stallings C | BAL
Rockies' Jacob Stallings: On bench Opening Day
Stallings is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
The 35-year-old appeared locked in to begin the season as Colorado's primary catcher, but it will be Hunter Goodman that receives the start behind the plate Opening Day. Stallings surprised with an .810 OPS in 82 games last season, but Goodman has more fantasy upside after clubbing 13 homers in 70 contests in 2024. The pair is likely to split playing time behind the plate.
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Hunter Goodman RF | COL
Rockies' Hunter Goodman: Draws Opening Day start
Goodman is starting at catcher and batting sixth in Friday's opener against the Rays.
Goodman had a fantastic Cactus League, finishing with a 1.322 OPS, three home runs and a 4:4 K:BB, and the Rockies are rewarding him with a start behind the plate over Jacob Stallings. The two catchers will likely split reps at catcher fairly evenly, but Goodman could see some action elsewhere on the diamond as well, and his fantasy ceiling is much higher.
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Drake Baldwin C | ATL
Braves' Drake Baldwin: Hitless in debut
Baldwin went 0-for-3 with a walk in Thursday's loss to the Padres.
Making his big-league debut, Baldwin guided Chris Sale to seven strikeouts in five innings but didn't make an impact at the plate. The 24-year-old catcher is expected to start for Atlanta as long as Sean Murphy (ribs) is sidelined, giving Baldwin at least a few weeks to prove he deserves to stick around on the 26-man roster.
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Hayden Senger C | NYM
Mets' Hayden Senger: Added to Opening Day roster
The Mets selected Senger's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday.
Senger made the Opening Day roster as a backup catcher and made his MLB debut in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Astros, striking out in his lone plate appearance. The 28-year-old is likely to see limited playing time at catcher behind Luis Torrens and should head to the minors once Francisco Alvarez (hand) is ready to return from the injured list.
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Miguel Amaya C | CHC
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Drives in five runs
Amaya went 2-for-5 with two doubles and five RBI during Thursday's 10-6 win against the Diamondbacks.
The 26-year-old started behind the plate and batted ninth in the Cubs' domestic opener, and he powered the offense with a three-run double in the fifth inning and a two-run double in the ninth. Amaya has been a bright spot in his first two games of the season, going 3-for-8 with three doubles and six RBI, which could help him move up from the bottom of the lineup.