MLB Player News

Manager David Bell said Sunday that he's unsure if Stephenson (concussion) will be ready to return from the 7-day injured list in time for the Reds' series in Colorado that begins Friday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Since he was placed on the 7-day injured list retroactive to April 20, Stephenson is technically eligible to return for the final two game of the Reds' home series with the Padres on Wednesday and Thursday, but Bell's comments imply that the backstop won't clear the concussion protocol by then. Stephenson doesn't sound like he's a lock to make it back for the weekend either, potentially making Aramis Garcia an attractive short-term pickup both in leagues that start one or two catchers. Though he's out of the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals, Garcia started each of the Reds' last four games and went 4-for-11 with two runs.

Hedges went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Yankees.

Hedges gave the Guardians a one-run lead in the eighth inning, but the Yankees pushed back to walk it off in the ninth. This was the catcher's first long ball of the year. He's slashing a meager .125/.200/.219 with three RBI and four runs scored through 37 plate appearances. Hedges remains a quality defensive catcher, but his offense does little to make a case for him to be rostered in many fantasy formats.

Plawecki (illness) is expected to return from the COVID-19 injured list at some point during the Red Sox's four-game series in Toronto that begins Monday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Since Plawecki is vaccinated, he's eligible to cross the border and join the Red Sox in Toronto, but he'll first have to complete his quarantine and resume testing negative for the virus. Whenever he's activated, Plawecki is expected to replace Connor Wong as the top backup to No. 1 catcher Christian Vazquez.

Barnhart is starting at catcher and batting eighth in Sunday's game against the Rockies.

Barnhart rested in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader but will return to action Sunday. The veteran catcher has yet to really get going with a .574 OPS and no home runs or RBI through nine games, though he should continue to see regular playing time with Eric Haase on hand to spell him. Haase is starting in left field Sunday.

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus Miami.

D'Arnaud started the first two games of the series and will take a seat for the finale. He has a modest four-game hit streak during which he's gone 7-for-16 with a home run, two doubles, two RBI and three runs. Manny Pina will catch Sunday for Bryce Elder in his place.

Haase is starting in left field and batting seventh in Sunday's game against the Rockies.

After a doubleheader Saturday, the Tigers are shuffling their lineup a bit Sunday, with Miguel Cabrera getting a day off and Austin Meadows shifting to DH. That opens up left field for Haase, who also started in left in the second game Saturday and went 0-for-3 with a walk. He has yet to really get going this season with a .172/.273/.310 slash line through 12 games.

Sanchez (abdomen) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Sanchez was a late scratch from Friday's lineup with abdominal tightness and won't re-enter the starting nine Sunday. The 29-year-old appears to have avoided a serious injury after an MRI came back clean, but he'll now have four full days to recover thanks to Monday's scheduled off day before potentially missing additional time. Ryan Jeffers will start behind the plate again in his absence.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Guardians.

Higashioka went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly during Saturday's matchup with Cleveland but will head to the bench Sunday for the third time in the past four games. Jose Trevino will receive another start behind the plate for the Yankees.

Adams went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Saturday against the Giants.

Adams drew the start behind the plate Saturday in relief of Keibert Ruiz. He has played only sparingly to begin the season, though he did manage to connect for his first home run of the campaign in the fifth inning. Should Josh Bell (hamstring) miss any additional time, Adams could be a playing time beneficiary.

Jeffers went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 9-2 win over the White Sox.

He took Vince Velasquez deep in the fourth inning for his first homer, and first RBI, of the season. Jeffers has had a shaky start to the campaign, slashing .194/.293/.333 through 41 plate appearances, but with Gary Sanchez (abdomen) not making much of an impact at the plate either, the door is still open for either one to get hot and seize a bigger share of the work behind the plate.