MLB Player News
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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 | CHC
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 | SD
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.
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Joey Bart C | PIT
Pirates' Joey Bart: Lifts grand slam in rout
Bart went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Tuesday's 12-2 win over the Brewers.
Bart blew the game open in the sixth inning with his grand slam, and the Pirates never looked back. It was just his third hit over seven games since he returned from a month-long absence with a left thumb sprain. Bart is slashing .241/.330/.468 with five homers, 17 RBI, nine runs scored and three doubles across 91 plate appearances this season, and he's gaining playing time over Yasmani Grandal -- Tuesday was Bart's fourth straight start.
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Luis Campusano C | SD
Padres' Luis Campusano: Idle Tuesday
Campusano isn't in the Padres' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners.
Tuesday will mark the third time Campusano has missed a start behind the plate since being activated from the injured list Friday. Kyle Higashioka, who has been on a hot streak recently, will once again start at catcher and bat ninth.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Braves' Sean Murphy: Slugs clutch homer
Murphy went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 5-4 extra-innings win against the Diamondbacks on Monday.
Atlanta was down to its last out when Murphy tied the score with his two-run blast off Arizona closer Paul Sewald in the top of the ninth inning. The clutch long ball was Murphy's second over his past four games, though he has only one other hit during that stretch. The veteran backstop went deep a career-high 21 times last season and has five homers through 29 contests during the current campaign.
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Joey Bart C | PIT
Pirates' Joey Bart: Making third straight start
Bart will start at catcher and bat eighth Monday against the Mets.
Bart will get his third straight start and looks to be trending toward being the top option for the Pirates at catcher over Yasmani Grandal. The 27-year-old -- who is slashing .250/.345/.458 in 27 games with the Pirates this season -- has started five of eight contests since returning from the injured list in late June.
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
Pirates' Yasmani Grandal: Out again Monday
Grandal is absent from the lineup for Monday's game versus the Mets.
Grandal has now taken a seat for three straight contests while Joey Bart has handled the catching duties. His first two absences from the lineup came against left-handers, but Grandal will hit the bench Monday against right-hander Christian Scott. Since coming off the injured list May 3 after missing the first month of the season while recovering from plantar fasciitis, Grandal has slashed just .182/.213/.298 over 128 plate appearances.