MLB Player News

Contreras is not in the lineup against Cincinnati on Friday.

Contreras will take a seat after starting the past three games behind the plate, while going 0-for-11 with one walk and five strikeouts during that span. In his absence, Chris Gimenez will catch Jose Quintana and bat eighth.

Grandal will not start Friday against the Mets, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.

After a hot start, Grandal has cooled off significantly. Since the start of May, he's hitting .177/.262/.355, though he does have seven home runs. Austin Barnes will start behind the plate Friday.

Murphy is not in the lineup Thursday against the Mets, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Murphy went 2-for-4 in Wednesday's win -- his fifth start in six games -- but he'll hit the bench with a southpaw (Steven Matz) starting for the Mets in this one. Chris Iannetta will start behind the dish and hit sixth.

Mesoraco is not in the lineup against the Rockies on Thursday.

Mesoraco will head to the bench for a standard day off after going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI during Wednesday's game. In his absence, Kevin Plawecki will catch for Steven Matz and bat sixth.

Hedges (elbow) could return for this weekend's series against the Giants, MLB.com's AJ Cassavell reports.

After missing a projected return date prior to the Padres' current two-game set versus the Athletics, Hedges could make his return to the majors sometime during a four-game series against the Giants that begins Thursday. The backstop has gone 9-for-23 with a home run and four RBI during his current seven-game rehab stint. Cassavell expects Hedges to reclaim his starting role upon activation, despite his lackluster .173/.235/.293 slash line in 24 games prior to hitting the disabled list. When healthy, the 25-year-old provides some pop from the catcher position (18 homers in 120 games last year), but typically with a low batting average.

Plawecki went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a strikeout in Tuesday's loss to the Rockies.

Plawecki delivered a run-scoring single in the second inning to knot the score at two, but the Rockies would end up exploding for six runs in the third to pull away early. The RBI was just his third of the season -- and first since May 28. Though the 27-year-old is slashing just .213/.360/.295, he's alternated starts behind the plate with Devin Mesoraco over the last eight games and should continue to more or less split time as neither player has inspired much confidence at the plate.

Mesoraco is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Rockies.

Mesoraco will give way to Kevin Plawecki behind the dish after going 1-for-3 with a walk and a homer in Monday's series opener. The two backstops have alternated starts over the last eight games, and figure to keep doing so moving forward. Plawecki will get the nod in this one, hitting seventh.

Grandal is not in the lineup for the second half of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cubs.

It only makes sense that the Dodgers would use a different catcher for each leg of the doubleheader. Austin Barnes will start behind the plate in place of Grandal, who was ejected late in Game 1 for arguing balls and strikes.

Murphy is not starting Tuesday against the Mets.

Since getting called up June 12, Murphy has started six times in seven games. He's a solid 6-for-23 over that stretch, though he went hitless in his last two games including a three-strikeout performance Monday. Chris Iannetta will start behind the plate Tuesday.

Herrera (suspension) was reinstated from the inactive list Sunday and has served as the designated hitter the last two games for short-season Hillsboro, going 0-for-6 in those contests.

Herrera appeared in one game for Low-A Kane County earlier this season before getting hit with a 50-game suspension for a positive drug test. Now that he's served the ban, the 21-year-old should play regularly with the short-season club, with an eye on eventually earning a promotion back to the Midwest League affiliate.