MLB Player News
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Miguel Amaya C | CHC
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Taking seat Wednesday
Amaya is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
Moises Ballesteros will enter the starting nine at designated hitter in place of Amaya, who had been included in the lineup as the Cubs' DH or catcher in six of the previous seven games. Amaya has compiled a .929 OPS through 20 plate appearances on the season and should continue to see fairly steady playing time while he's swinging a hot bat.
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Drew Millas C | WAS
Nationals' Drew Millas: Part of timeshare with Ruiz
Millas will start at catcher and bat eighth Wednesday against the Cardinals.
Keibert Ruiz was expected to open the season as the Nationals' clear No. 1 catcher, but he's instead been part of a timeshare at the position with Millas. The two backstops have alternated starts through Washington's first 12 games, but neither has separated himself from the other from a performance standpoint. Millas has maintained a .509 OPS through 21 plate appearances, while Ruiz owns a .563 OPS over 22 plate appearances.
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Keibert Ruiz C | WAS
Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Part of catching timeshare
Ruiz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
Ruiz remains part of a timeshare at catcher with Drew Millas, as the two backstops have alternated starts behind the plate through the Nationals' first 12 games. Neither player has done much to separate himself from the other, with Ruiz posting a .563 OPS to Millas' .509.
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Austin Wells C | NYY
Yankees' Austin Wells: Out of Yankees' lineup
Wells is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Athletics.
It's a routine day of rest after Wells had started at catcher in each of the previous five tilts. J.C. Escarra will handle catching duties Wednesday in Wells' stead.
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Nick Fortes C | TB
Rays' Nick Fortes: Exiting starting lineup
Fortes is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Cubs.
Fortes started at catcher in the first two games of the series, so he'll get some rest in Wednesday's finale. Hunter Feduccia will be behind the dish and bat seventh for Tampa Bay.
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Tyler Heineman C | TOR
Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Sharing time at catcher
Heineman will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Heineman won the Blue Jays' backup catching role coming out of spring training, but he doesn't look like he'll see the overwhelming majority of the starts behind the plate after top backstop Alejandro Kirk fractured his left thumb Friday and later underwent surgery. Since Kirk went down with injury, Heineman has logged three starts at catcher, while the newly recalled Brandon Valenzuela has started twice. Heineman has been productive in a limited sample with a .795 OPS over 16 plate appearances this season, but until he takes on a larger volume of playing time, he likely won't warrant much intrigue outside of AL-only leagues.
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Daniel Susac C | SF
Giants' Daniel Susac: Tallies three hits in victory
Susac went 3-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored and a triple in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Phillies.
With Patrick Bailey getting the night off, Susac made his second big-league start and turned in another impressive performance. The 24-year-old catcher singled in the second inning and added another base hit in the fifth before coming around to score. He also delivered a two-run triple in the eighth, driving in San Francisco's final runs. Across eight plate appearances this season, he has gone 6-for-7 with one walk. While Bailey should continue to see the majority of the reps behind the plate, Susac's strong play to begin the season could result in more playing time. Per Maria Guardado of MLB.com, manager Tony Vitello said, "I think [Susac has] earned the right to be out there for us more often. It's not an easy thing to go out there all the time. ... You'll be seeing plenty of both guys as the season goes on."
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Samuel Basallo C | BAL
Orioles' Samuel Basallo: Playing time trending down
Basallo is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the White Sox.
After starting six of the first seven games of the season, Basallo has been in the lineup just twice over the past five tilts and has not started consecutive games over that span. The young slugger has gotten off to a sluggish start, going 5-for-30 with a 38.2 percent strikeout rate. Pete Alonso will be in the designated hitter slot Wednesday and Ryan Mountcastle will start at first base for the Orioles.