MLB Player News
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Stays hot Wednesday
Stephenson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Rockies.
Stephenson has feasted on Colorado pitching, going 6-for-13 with five extra-base hits over the first three games of this week's series. Prior to Tuesday, he had gone 22 games without a multi-hit effort. The catcher is now at a .245/.318/.425 slash line with eight homers, 29 RBI, 34 runs scored, 16 doubles and one stolen base over 75 contests.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Scratched with back tightness
Moreno was scratched from Arizona's lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against Atlanta due to lower-back tightness, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.
The team said that Moreno is still available off the bench for Wednesday's contest, so his back injury doesn't appear to be too serious. Nonetheless, Jose Herrera will start behind the plate instead and bat ninth.
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Nick Fortes C | TB
Marlins' Nick Fortes: Hitting bench Wednesday
Fortes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.
Fortes will get a rest after he was behind the plate for both of the previous two games while going 1-for-6 with a double, an RBI and a run. Ali Sanchez will catch for starting pitcher Bryan Hoeing on Wednesday.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Getting night off
Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
The newly minted All-Star will get a breather Wednesday while Austin Barnes receives a turn behind the dish. Smith was one of the few bright spots for the Dodgers in Tuesday's 10-1 loss in the series opener, going 2-for-4 with a walk in the blowout.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Padres' Kyle Higashioka: On bench Wednesday
Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.
Though he's on the bench Wednesday, Higashioka looks to have moved ahead of both Luis Campusano and Brett Sullivan in the pecking order at catcher. Higashioka had already been seeing the majority of the starts behind the plate over Sullivan while Campusano was on the injured list, but since being activated Friday, Campusano has cracked the lineup just once in five games. Meanwhile, Higashioka has continued to rake at the plate to make a case for the lion's share of the playing time at catcher. Dating back to June 22, Higashioka has slashed .342/.375/.842 with six home runs, 17 RBI and eight runs over a stretch of 11 games.
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Luis Campusano C | SD
Padres' Luis Campusano: Light playing time since return
Campusano is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.
Since being activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Campusano has started in just one of the Friars' ensuing five games. He appears to have slid behind Kyle Higashioka on the depth chart at catcher, though both backstops will be out of the lineup Wednesday while No. 3 option Brett Sullivan gets the nod behind the dish.
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Tomas Nido C | DET
Cubs' Tomas Nido: Hitting bench Wednesday
Nido is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
Nido had started behind the plate in four of the past five games, but he'll cede catching duties to Miguel Amaya on Wednesday. Since signing with the Cubs on June 19, Nido has put together a .133/.156/.200 slash line with a 31.3 percent strikeout rate, so his hold on the No. 1 catcher's role may be tenuous.
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Rafael Marchan C | PHI
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Three hits, two doubles in win
Marchan went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI in Tuesday's 10-1 win over the Dodgers.
Marchan's been red hot, going 8-for-16 with four extra-base hits in his last four games. With J.T. Realmuto (knee) out, the 25-year-old Marchan has certainly made the most of the opportunity -- he's now slashing .313/.353/.583 with three homers, six RBI and eight runs scored through 52 plate appearances. He's likely earned the primary catching job over Garrett Stubbs for now, though Realmuto is expected to rejoin the Phillies following the All-Star break.
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Big day as cleanup hitter
Stephenson batted fourth and went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, two RBI and two additional runs in Tuesday's 12-6 win over the Rockies.
Stephenson moved up a spot in the order, as Reds manager David Bell was forced to adapt to Jonathan India (knee) being scratched. Spencer Steer, the normal cleanup hitter, covered leadoff for India while Stephenson moved up from fifth. The home run was Stephenson's seventh of the season and first in 26 games.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Padres' Kyle Higashioka: Two-run homer Tuesday
Higashioka went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer and a walk in Tuesday's loss to the Mariners.
Higashioka tacked on a two-run blast in the eighth to cut the deficit to 7-3 for his only hit of the evening. Though he's not an everyday player, Higashioka has been swinging the bat well when in the lineup of late, slashing .342/.375/.842 with six homers, 17 RBI and eight runs scored in 40 plate appearances over his last 11 games. He'll continue to split time behind the dish with Luis Campusano despite Higashioka currently swinging a much hotter bat.