MLB Player News

Stallings is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.

The playing time at catcher has been tilting in Stallings' favor of late, with the 33-year-old having started behind the dish in three of the previous four games. Stallings will give way to Nick Fortes on Wednesday, but even if one of the two emerges as the Marlins' clear-cut top option over the final six weeks of the season, neither is expected to deliver much meaningful fantasy value.

Contreras (hip) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

He'll be on the bench for a second straight game while he manages a tight right hip. Despite Contreras being banged up, the Cardinals haven't called up another catcher from the minors, so the team is seemingly optimistic the hip issue isn't serious enough to send him to the 10-day injured list. Andrew Knizner will pick up another turn behind the plate Wednesday while Contreras turns his focus toward a return to the lineup at some point during this weekend's four-game series with the Mets.

Sabol will start at catcher and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Rays, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Sabol went 1-for-8 at the dish while starting each of the past three games in left field, but he'll shift behind the plate Wednesday while No. 1 backstop Patrick Bailey rests in the series finale. The Giants seem content to give Sabol a look as their primary left fielder against right-handed pitching while all of Mike Yastrzemski (hamstring), Mitch Haniger (forearm) and AJ Pollock (oblique) are on the injured list.

Murphy is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.

Atlanta will go with Travis d'Arnaud at catcher as it tries to finish off a sweep of the Yankees. Murphy wasn't in the lineup for Monday's game either, as manager Brian Snitker continues to regularly alternate starts for his catchers.

Bailey is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's tilt against the Rays, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The Giants and Rays are playing a day game after a night game, so Bailey will get an opportunity to rest. Blake Sabol will do the catching for the Giants in the series finale.

Stephenson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

Stephenson is slashing a woeful .180/.254/.246 since the All-Star break, and his ongoing struggles at the dish appear to have resulted in him moving into more of a timeshare at catcher with Luke Maile. The two backstops have now alternated starts behind the plate over the past eight games.

Moreno is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Though he didn't start in his return from the injured list Sunday, Moreno was behind the dish for the first two games of the series in Colorado, going 1-for-8 with a double and an RBI. He should be locked in as Arizona's primary option behind the dish moving forward, but Moreno will give way to Jose Herrera for the day game after a night game.

Diaz is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's tilt against the Diamondbacks.

The Rockies and Diamondbacks are playing a day game after a night game, so Colorado's No. 1 catcher will receive some rest. Austin Wynns will step in behind the plate, catching for starting pitcher Austin Gomber.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Alvarez appears to be receiving some routine maintenance while the Mets and Pirates conclude their series with a day game after a night game. Omar Narvaez will check in behind the dish in place of Alvarez, whose production has slowed down thus far in August with one home run and a .184 average on the month.

Sanchez went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 10-3 win over the Orioles.

Sanchez's big blast in the first inning gave the Padres all they needed for the win. He's hitting .300 in August (9-for-30) with four homers and nine RBI over eight games this month. Overall, the catcher is at a .221/.297/.503 slash line with 16 homers, 41 RBI, 30 runs scored and seven doubles through 219 plate appearances. Despite the strong recent form at the plate, Sanchez has been splitting time pretty evenly with Luis Campusano.