MLB Player News

Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

Houston's top backstop will get a breather after he started behind the plate each of the past three days. Jason Castro will form a battery with starting pitcher Cristian Javier in the series finale.

The Cubs placed Gomes on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left oblique strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Gomes was positioned for an uptick in playing time after top backstop Willson Contreras (hamstring) was on the bench for a third straight game in Tuesday's 11-4 win over the Reds, but Gomes' own injury ultimately proved to be a longer-term concern than Contreras'. P.J. Higgins will pick up another start behind the plate Wednesday in Cincinnati while Contreras continues to heal up, but the Cubs' decision not to call up another catcher in a corresponding move suggests that Contreras' injury remains a day-to-day issue.

Contreras (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Cincinnati.

Contreras' strained right hamstring will keep him on the bench for the fourth straight game, but his health at least appears to be a lesser concern than that of fellow backstop Yan Gomes (oblique), who was placed on the 10-day injured list. The Cubs could consider deactivating Contreras if he doesn't show more improvement heading into the weekend, but for now, he's being viewed as day-to-day. P.J. Higgins will pick up the start behind the plate Wednesday.

Casali (concussion) has made good progress in recent days and could be activated from the 7-day injured list this weekend, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Casali has yet to formally clear MLB's concussion protocol, but he looks like he might be able to do so by the time he's first eligible to return from the IL on Saturday. Prior to sustaining the head injury, Casali appeared to be moving into a timeshare at catcher with the struggling Joey Bart, who is hitting .171 on the season.

Murphy is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

Murphy is carrying a six-game hitting streak but has caught in each of the Athletics' last five games, so he'll be getting some routine maintenance in the series finale in Seattle. Christian Bethancourt will be behind the plate Wednesday in his stead.

Stephenson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Stephenson started in each of the Reds' last seven games and was behind the plate for six of those contests, so he'll get a well-earned breather Wednesday. Aramis Garcia will catch for starting pitcher Luis Castillo.

Smith isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Smith has recorded hits in his last six games, and he's hit .261 with two homers, a double, four runs and three RBI during that time. However, Austin Barnes will take over behind the plate and bat ninth Wednesday.

Nido is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Nido will take a seat for Wednesday's matinee game after he started behind the plate in Tuesday's 13-12 loss and went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Patrick Mazeika will draw the starting nod at catcher, forming a battery with pitcher Thomas Szapucki in the lefty's first MLB start.

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

After going 2-for-5 with a double, a run and his first stolen base of the season in Tuesday's loss, Ruiz looks to be getting a breather with the Nationals and Dodgers wrapping up their series with a day game after a night game. Riley Adams will fill in for him behind the plate, while Lane Thomas replaces Ruiz as the Nationals' No. 2 hitter.

Trevino went 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk and three total RBI in Tuesday's 7-6, extra-innings win against Baltimore.

The backstop was a big part of the offense Tuesday, drilling a solo homer in the third inning and tying the game with a run-scoring single in the seventh. He then provided the game-winning run with a single to left field in the bottom of the 11th. Trevino has started three of the past four games for the Yankees, and he's gone 5-for-11 with four RBI over that stretch.