MLB Player News

Bailey is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest against Atlanta, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Atlanta is starting Spencer Strider, so Bailey probably didn't put up too much of a fight when he was told he was getting a day off. Blake Sabol will do the catching for Logan Webb.

Murphy isn't in Atlanta's lineup Friday against the Giants, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Murphy will get a day off Friday after going 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored during Wednesday's game against the Mets. As usual, Travis d'Arnaud will start behind the dish and bat seventh in Murphy's place.

Stephenson isn't in the Reds' lineup Friday against Arizona.

Stephenson will get a breather Friday after picking up a hit in six of his last seven games. Luke Maile will fill in behind the dish and bat ninth in Stephenson's place.

Ruiz (head) is starting as Washington's designated hitter and batting fourth Friday against Miami, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Lightheadedness kept Ruiz from playing in Thursday's game against the Yankees, but he appears to be feeling well enough to play Friday. The 25-year-old has collected a hit in 10 of his last 11 games and is slashing .372/.426/.651 with three homers and nine RBI in that span.

Rodriguez is not in the lineup for Friday's tilt versus the Cubs, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

The Pirates have now gone with Jason Delay at catcher for two of the last three games, although Rodriguez did appear as a pinch-hitter in the first of those contests he didn't start. Rodriguez also caught all 10 frames of Thursday's extra-innings loss to the Cubs, but he'll begin this one on the bench.

Realmuto is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.

The Phillies were off Thursday, so Realmuto will receive two days of rest to recharge his battery. Garrett Stubbs will do the catching for Cristopher Sanchez.

Moreno went 3-for-4 in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Reds.

Moreno's surged at the plate over the past week, hitting safely in five of six games, including multiple hits in four. He's 10-for-24 with a double, two home runs and seven RBI over that stretch. Moreno's put up a respectable line during his first full season in the majors, slashing .282/.321/.392 over 83 games. His emergence prompted to the Diamondbacks to move on from Carson Kelly, who served as the club's primary catcher the four previous seasons.

Casali (foot) was removed from his minor-league rehab assignment Thursday.

Casali isn't immediately rejoining the Reds' 26-man active roster, so he might have suffered a setback of some sort. The veteran catcher landed on the 10-day injured list in late July because of a left foot contusion.

Smith is not in the lineup for Thursday's later game at Cleveland.

Smith caught all nine innings and went 0-for-4 with an RBI sac fly in Wednesday's rain-suspended 6-1 win, which had to be concluded Thursday afternoon. Austin Barnes will start behind the plate in the Dodgers' regularly-scheduled tilt versus the Guardians.

Ruiz is out of the lineup Thursday versus the Yankees due to lightheadedness, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Ruiz took a foul tip off his catcher's mask in the Nationals' blowout loss to New York on Wednesday and was feeling the effects of it Thursday morning. There's no word yet as to whether he'll have to be placed in concussion protocol. Riley Adams is starting behind the dish and batting seventh in Thursday's matinee game at Yankee Stadium.