MLB Player News
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
Pirates' Yasmani Grandal: Riding pine Friday
Grandal is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies.
For the third time in the last five games, Grandal will give way to Henry Davis behind the dish. Grandal is 2-for-21 (.095) in June, though Davis hasn't been much better this month, going 2-for-15 (.133) with nine strikeouts.
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Elias Diaz C | SD
Rockies' Elias Diaz: Lands on IL with calf strain
The Rockies placed Diaz on the 10-day injured list Friday due to a left calf strain, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports..
Diaz was removed in the bottom half of the first inning of Monday's game against the Twins after straining his left calf while running to first base. He was held out for the rest of that series in the hopes he would be available for a weekend set against Pittsburgh, but instead the 33-year-old heads to the IL. Jacob Stallings got the start at catcher the last two games, and he figures to see most of the action behind the plate while Diaz is sidelined, though Hunter Goodman will provide some depth and will start at catcher for Saturday's game, per Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Taking seat Friday
Moreno is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.
Moreno will yield to the lefty-hitting Tucker Barnhart on Friday with RHP Chris Flexen starting for the White Sox. In June, Moreno is batting .278 with six extra-base hits, seven runs and five RBI.
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Luis Campusano C | SD
Padres' Luis Campusano: Taking seat Friday
Campusano is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Mets.
He will yield to the hot-hitting Kyle Higashioka at catcher Friday. Campusano is slashing just .146/.203/.182 across his last 19 games.
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Garrett Stubbs C | PHI
Phillies' Garrett Stubbs: Idle Friday
Stubbs is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Baltimore.
Stubbs will give way to Rafael Marchan for the second time in four games, even with a right-handed pitcher taking the mound for the Orioles. It seems as though Stubbs and Marchan will be in a near 50-50 split behind the plate while J.T. Realmuto (knee) is sidelined unless one of them heats up.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Idle Thursday
Smith isn't in the Dodgers' lineup Thursday versus the Rangers.
Smith will get some scheduled rest after starting in five consecutive games. In that span, the catcher went 5-for-19 with a homer versus the Yankees and Rangers. With the 29-year-old on the bench Thursday, Austin Barnes will start behind the dish and bat ninth.
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Francisco Alvarez C | NYM
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Sitting out Thursday
Alvarez is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Marlins.
Alvarez started at catcher in the first two games of the series after being activated from the 10-day injured list, but he will sit out the finale. Luis Torrens will do the catching for Luis Severino.
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Willson Contreras C | STL
Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Could start rehab games Tuesday
Contreras (forearm) is hoping to begin a rehab assignment around June 18, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Contreras is just five weeks into a projected 10-week timetable following surgery to repair a fractured left forearm, but Goold writes that the catcher is "eager to push the timetable for his return." He took batting practice in the cage Thursday and has been catching bullpen sessions without issue. If Contreras is indeed able to start a rehab assignment by Tuesday, he could be just a week or so away from activation.
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Willson Contreras C | STL
Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Taking full BP in cage
Contreras (forearm) will take full batting practice in the indoor batting cage Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Contreras is barely more than a month removed from surgery to repair a fractured left forearm. He was given a 10-week timetable to return following the operation but would appear to be ahead of schedule, given that he's already taking batting practice. Before being activated from the injured list, Contreras will surely need to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment, but it's uncertain when he might be cleared to join one of the Cardinals' affiliates for game action.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Braves' Sean Murphy: Resting for day game
Murphy is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles.
Murphy will get a breather for Thursday's matinee after he caught eight innings of Atlanta's 4-2 loss Wednesday night while going hitless across four at-bats. Travis d'Arnaud will spell Murphy behind the plate.