MLB Player News

Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Jason Castro will pick up his first start of the season while Maldonado heads to the bench after catching each of the last three days. Though the Astros put up 26 runs in the first three games of the series, Maldonado didn't get in on the act, going just 1-for-13 with six strikeouts over that stretch.

Updating a previous report, Murphy (wrist) will remain out of the lineup for a third straight game Sunday against the Astros, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Though an initial lineup released on MLB.com listed Murphy as the Athletics' starting catcher, those duties will instead fall to Aramis Garcia while Murphy remains on the mend from a bruised right wrist. Per Alex Coffey of The Athletic, manager Bob Melvin said that Murphy didn't feel 100 percent while swinging in the batting cage, but the Athletics think the 26-year-old backstop will need only one more day off before checking back into the lineup. Oakland opens a three-game home series with the Dodgers on Monday.

Murphy (wrist) will start at catcher and bat sixth Sunday against the Astros.

He'll check back into the starting nine for the first time since Opening Day after missing consecutive games due to a right wrist contusion. Provided he comes out of Sunday's contest without issue, he should be in line to make the majority of the starts behind the dish during the Athletics' upcoming six-game week.

Contreras is starting at catcher and batting second in Sunday's game against the Pirates.

Contreras led off Saturday's game with Ian Happ out of the lineup, going 0-for-2 with two walks, but he'll bump back to second with Happ back in there Sunday. It's also the third straight start behind the plate for Contreras to start the season, so the Cubs do seem intent on riding their 28-year-old backstop, though he'll likely see an off day fairly soon.

Narvaez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.

Carrying over the momentum from a hot spring, Narvaez has gotten off to a nice little 3-for-8 start to the 2021 season. Narvaez was the only Brewer to record a hit in Saturday's game. He will get a day to rest his legs as Manny Pina takes over behind the plate Sunday.

Jansen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.

After going 1-for-6 with a walk and a run scored through the first two games of the series, Jansen will cede catching duties to Alejandro Kirk on Sunday in what amounts to a rest day for the former. The upgrade Jansen provides defensively should be enough to keep him atop the depth chart for now, but he may need to show improvement at the plate in his fourth MLB season in order to hold off Kirk for the long haul.

Trevino is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Jonah Heim will catch Jordan Lyles in the series finale in Kansas City while Trevino presumably gets a routine breather after starting behind the plate in Texas' first two games. Trevino recorded four hits in nine at-bats between those contests, likely strengthening his hold on the No. 1 job in the process.

Stallings is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

After catching the first two games, Stallings will give way to Michael Perez behind the plate with right-hander Mitch Keller on the mound for Pittsburgh. Stallings is 2-for-7 with a walk, a double and three strikeouts so far this season.

Perez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Austin Hedges will pick up a start behind the plate after Perez caught both of Cleveland's first two games of the season. The typically light-hitting backstop made an impact at the dish between the contests, going 2-for-6 with a home run, two RBI and two walks.

Realmuto is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Braves.

Andrew Knapp will take over behind the plate to catch for starting pitcher Zach Eflin. Realmuto had limited spring at-bats due to a fractured right thumb, but he has shown little rust through two regular-season games, going 4-for-8 with two doubles.