MLB Player News

Stubbs will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

With top backstop J.T. Realmuto receiving a breather for the day game after a night game, Stubbs will crack the starting nine for just the eighth time in 49 contests on the season. Stubbs, who owns a .588 OPS over 30 plate appearances in 2023, will likely remain one of MLB's most lightly used backup catchers so long as Realmuto is healthy.

Realmuto is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Diamondbacks.

Realmuto will get a rare breather Wednesday, heading to the bench after he went 8-for-32 with three doubles, two RBI, a run scored and four walks while starting the last nine games. Garrett Stubbs will take over behind the plate and bat ninth in the series finale with Arizona.

Hedges is out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Rangers.

Hedges will head to the bench after he went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts while starting the first two games of the series behind the plate. Jason Delay will take over at catcher and bat eighth in the rubber match with Texas.

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

The 23-year-old backstop will get a rest after he caught both of the first two games in the series in Philadelphia while going 1-for-6 with a home run, two walks and two RBI. Jose Herrera will step in behind the dish for the series finale.

Diaz went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Marlins.

This was Diaz's fourth multi-hit effort in his last five games, a span in which he's hitting .450 (9-for-20) with four extra-base hits and six RBI. The catcher has been one of the best at his position this season, leading all qualified backstops with a .345 batting average through 42 contests. He's added a .904 OPS, four home runs, 24 RBI, 18 runs scored and 10 doubles.

Moreno went 1-for-2 with two walks and a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Phillies.

The 23-year-old catcher gave Arizona an early lead by taking Matt Strahm deep in the second inning. Moreno hasn't displayed a lot of power yet -- the homer was only his second in 39 games this season -- but he's still posting a strong .304/.341/.400 slash line with two steals, nine runs and 19 RBI.

Smith is in the Dodgers' lineup Tuesday versus Atlanta, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Smith took a Marcell Ozuna backswing to the head in Monday's series opener, but he played the entire game and ultimately checked out fine afterward. The star catcher is slashing .297/.399/.541 with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 31 games (138 plate appearances) this season for Los Angeles.

Contreras is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Astros.

Victor Caratini will catch and bat eighth versus the Astros and right-hander J.P. France. Contreras has an .873 OPS this year against lefties compared to a .675 OPS against righties.

Pineda (finger) was cleared Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment with High-A Wilmington, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Pineda was placed on the major-league injured list just before Opening Day after suffering a fractured finger on his right hand during spring training. He'll probably be stationed at Triple-A Rochester whenever he's deemed fully healthy, with Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams remaining up as the catching tandem in Washington.

Alvarez is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Cubs.

Gary Sanchez will get the start at catcher and bat ninth versus the Cubs and left-hander Drew Smyly. Mark Vientos is serving as the designated hitter and batting fifth.