MLB Player News

Murphy went 2-for-6 with a solo home run in Sunday's 11-3 win over the Rangers.

Thanks in part to a surge in matchups versus left-handed pitching, Murphy cracked the lineup for the seventh time in eight games, with five turns coming at catcher. Though the Mariners will oppose a right-hander (Kyle Hendricks) in Monday's series opener with the Cubs, Murphy will stick in starting nine at catcher over the lefty-hitting Omar Narvaez, who is dealing with back spasms. The 58-80 Mariners have little incentive to rush Narvaez back, so Murphy could be in store for a decent amount of playing time during the team's six-game week.

Caratini is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.

Caratini will get a day off after starting in each of the past six games, logging three turns behind the plate and three at first base. He won't be in store for much action at the latter position moving forward now that Anthony Rizzo has shaken off a back injury, but Caratini should remain ahead of Jonathan Lucroy on the depth chart at catcher through the weekend. Manager Joe Maddon relayed Monday that top backstop Willson Contreras (hamstring) could be ready to come off the injured list at some point during the four-game series in Milwaukee that begins Thursday, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

D'Arnaud entered Sunday's win over the Indians as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning and went 2-for-2 with an RBI single and a run-scoring double.

The veteran slotted in at first base and extended his hitting streak to six games with his multi-hit effort. D'Arnaud has displayed a welcome penchant for clutch hitting recently, totaling six RBI over his last four contests.

Narvaez's absence Monday against the Cubs is due to back spasms, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

It's not clear how much time Narvaez is expected to miss. Tom Murphy will get the start at catcher in the series opener.

Realmuto is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.

Realmuto drew his 20th consecutive start -- with 19 coming at catcher -- in Sunday night's 5-2 win over the Mets, so he'll just be getting a breather with the Phillies facing a quick turnaround for Monday's series opener. The rest day can only help Realmuto, who went hitless across 11 at-bats over the weekend. Andrew Knapp spells him behind the dish.

Narvaez is not starting Monday against the Cubs.

Narvaez hits the bench for the third time in four games. Tom Murphy gets the nod behind the plate.

Rogers will start Monday against the Twins after John Hicks was scratched due to illness, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Rogers will get another chance to dig himself out of his very poor start to his big-league career. He's hit just .114/.231/.278 through his first 24 games, but the Tigers are very much playing for the future.

Nola remains on the bench Monday against the Cubs.

Nola owns an awful .088/.179/.088 slash line over his last 10 games. Daniel Vogelbach again starts at first base.

Rogers is not starting Monday against the Twins.

Rogers continues to find himself in the lineup on a fairly frequent basis despite going 2-for-43 with 24 strikeouts over his last 13 games. John Hicks starts behind the plate Monday.

The Astros recalled Stubbs from Triple-A Round Rock ahead of Monday's game against the Brewers, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

He'll join Houston as the club's No. 3 catcher, a role that likely won't afford him many regular starts in September. Instead, Stubbs will merely function as insurance behind veterans Robinson Chirinos and Martin Maldonado, the clear top two options on the depth chart.