MLB Player News

Herrera will start at catcher and bat second in Tuesday's contest against the Mets.

It's the second start at catcher this season for Herrera, leaving him eight games shy of gaining eligibility at the position if your league uses a 10-game in-season threshold. Herrera is off to a slow start offensively this season, going 2-for-17 with a double and two RBI.

Stephenson is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Pirates.

It's a routine day off for Stephenson, who has now started three of the Reds' first five tilts. Jose Trevino will do the catching and bat eighth for Cincinnati on Tuesday.

Marchan went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and was also hit by a pitch in Monday's 13-2 victory over the Phillies.

Marchan made his first appearance of the season to give J.T. Realmuto a rare game off, and he made the most of that chance. He was one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise forgettable game for the Phillies, accounting for the team's only runs with his two-run shot in the fifth inning off of Foster Griffin. The 27-year-old had just two homers in 42 games last year, so he's already halfway to that mark to begin 2026.

Contreras went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Rays.

Contreras' two-run shot in the sixth inning of Nick Martinez accounted for all of the scoring for Milwaukee. Through four games, Contreras is 4-for-15 at the plate with a pair of doubles, one home run, five RBI, three runs scored and a 4:2 BB:K, good for a 1.021 OPS.

Hicks went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Monday's 9-4 loss to the White Sox.

Hicks cracked his second homer of the campaign Monday. Most of the 26-year-old backstop's action in 2026 is likely to come at either catcher, designated hitter or first base, as Agustin Ramirez is locked in as Miami's top catcher, and Hicks is making an early case for the Marlins to find ways to get his bat into the lineup.

Smith is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Guardians.

Smith will receive a day off after starting at catcher in each of the Dodgers' first three games of the season. It will be Dalton Rushing behind the dish and batting ninth in Monday's series opener versus Cleveland.

Murphy (hip) could begin a rehab assignment with High-A Rome later this week, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

Murphy has rejoined Atlanta to continue rehabbing from hip surgery. He will work out with the big club early this week before participating in a simulated game with Rome on Wednesday. Murphy has not played in a game setting in nearly seven months, so he will need more than just a few rehab contests before being activated from the 10-day injured list. The 31-year-old could be ready for his season debut around the beginning of May.

Realmuto is not in the lineup for Monday's tilt against the Nationals.

Realmuto will receive a day of rest after starting all three games during the weekend set against the Rangers. Rafael Marchan will do the catching and bat ninth in Monday's series opener.

Ruiz is not in the lineup for Monday's game in Philadelphia.

Ruiz and Drew Millas have split starts at catcher in the early going, as Millas will get the call in Monday's series opener. Both of the switch-hitting Ruiz's starts have come against left-handed pitching, though that seems more like happenstance than a trend that will continue.

Fermin is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Giants.

Fermin and Luis Campusano have alternated starts at catcher in the first four games of the season for the Padres. It will be Campusano catching and batting ninth in Monday's series opener.