MLB Player News

Hedges is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Kansas City.

Hedges is 0-for-7 across the first two games of the season and will head to the bench for Sunday's contest. Bryan Lavastida will start behind the plate for the Guardians in his major-league debut.

Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus Milwaukee.

Contreras started behind the plate the first two games of the season and will take the day off in the series finale against the Brewers. Yan Gomes will catch for Marcus Stroman on Sunday as both veterans make their debut in Chicago.

McCann is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Washington, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McCann is 1-for-6 with a run and an RBI to begin the season and will take a seat Sunday for the second time in the opening four-game set against the Nationals. Tomas Nido will receive another start behind the plate for the Mets.

Realmuto is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the A's, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Realmuto started behind the plate the first two games of the season and went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. The 31-year-old will rest in Sunday's series finale while Garrett Stubbs forms the battery with Zach Eflin in his place.

Grandal is not in Sunday's lineup against the Tigers.

As expected, Grandal started each of the team's first two games at catcher. He'll draw his first day of rest Sunday, with Reese McGuire taking over behind the dish and hitting eighth.

Kirk is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Kirk served as the designated hitter Opening Day and worked behind the plate Saturday for Toronto, and he'll receive the day off in the series finale. George Springer will serve as the designated hitter Sunday with Raimel Tapia roaming center field, while Danny Jansen starts at catcher.

Contreras went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in a 9-0 win Saturday over the Brewers.

Contreras walked and scored in the first and singled and scored in the sixth. The two-time All-Star was plunked on a 3-0 pitch by Brandon Woodruff in the fourth, the second consecutive game he's been hit by a Milwaukee pitcher. Barring a surprise extension, the 30-year-old is expected to reach free agency for the first time following the season. Since making his debut in 2016, Contreras has been one of the best catchers in baseball and he will likely receive a healthy payday if he puts up numbers similar to his career .806 OPS this year.

Barnes went 2-for-3 with a home run in Saturday's loss against the Rockies.

The backstop made his season debut Saturday and took German Marquez deep in the top of the third inning. He was the only player to record multiple hits for the Dodgers in this game, but he's not expected to become the regular catcher for the Dodgers.

Murphy went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and two runs scored in a 4-3 win Saturday in Minnesota.

Murphy walked and scored in the third and hit a solo home run in the fifth off starter Sonny Gray. It was the season debut for Murphy, as Cal Raleigh started on Opening Day. Murphy is a defense-first catcher but has hit for power at the major-league level.

The Dodgers said there was nothing to Smith's scratch from Saturday's lineup and instead there was simply a mistake with the first lineup released, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief, as it seems like the Dodgers just wanted to get Austin Barnes involved to keep him sharp. We should expect Smith back in the lineup for Sunday's series finale in Colorado.