MLB Player News

Realmuto is out of the lineup Sunday against the Reds, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

After back-to-back starts behind the plate, Realmuto will head to the bench for the afternoon series finale. A.J. Ellis will man the backstop in his stead.

Realmuto went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI during Saturday's win.

Realmuto is providing high-end numbers from the catcher position with a .305/.361/.475 slash line, 10 homers, 39 RBI, five stolen bases and 41 runs. He entered Saturday's game with the fourth-most plate appearances (328) among all catchers, so his hefty role also provides a high fantasy floor.

D'Arnaud went 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run during Saturday's win over the Athletics.

The backstop hasn't moved the fantasy needle outside of deep fantasy settings, and his .241/.302/.449 slash line isn't overly encouraging. Still, nine home runs, 31 RBI and 24 runs over just 205 plate appearances is serviceable production from the catcher position.

Rupp went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer, a walk and two runs Saturday against the Brewers.

Rupp's seventh home run of the year came in the eighth inning to fully erase what once was a seven-run deficit for the Phillies. Although he carries a weak batting average, his ability to hit an occasional homer gives him value in leagues that require two starting catchers.

Mejia, 21, is day-to-day at Double-A Akron with a hip strain, Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

He has not played since Thursday, but it sounds like he may not require a stint on the 7-day DL for the RubberDucks. Mejia, the best catching prospect in the game, is hitting .320/.368/.525 with 10 home runs and five steals in 270 plate appearances. He has an exemplary 35:19 K:BB, despite being much younger than the typical player in the Eastern League.

McGuire (knee) was removed from Double-A New Hampshire's disabled list to begin a rehab assignment at the Jays complex in Dunedin.

The catcher had surgery in May to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee. McGuire, 22, scorched an RBI double during his first rehab game Friday in the Gulf Coast League. A first-round pick in 2013 by the Pirates, McGuire has yet to break through offensively over 370 career at-bats in Double-A, but he's still considered one of the organization's top catching prospects.

Sanchez is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's tilt with the Giants.

The 27-year-old backstop has been hitting well since taking over for Austin Hedges (concussion) behind the plate, going 8-for-22 with three home runs over his last five starts, but gets the day off after catching all 11 innings in Friday's win. Luis Torrens will fill in at catcher, batting eighth.

Maldonado went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Red Sox.

Friday night's performance contributed to what has been Maldonado's best season at the plate, as the 30-year-old backstop is slashing .247/.310/.418 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI this year. It isn't an overly flashy stat line, although his sneaky power and consistent playing time make him worth a look in two-catcher leagues given the dearth of other options behind the plate.

Vazquez is not in the lineup Friday against the Angels, Tim Britton of The Providence Journal reports.

Vazquez has just 11 hits in the past 30 games with only one of them going for extra bases. He'll hit the bench for a night off Friday, allowing Sandy Leon to enter the lineup in his place.

Contreras went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer Friday against the Cardinals.

Contreras blasted his 14th homer of the year to give the Cubs a first-inning lead in a game they'd go on to lose. He's smashed five bombs over 14 July contests, and his .272 batting average to go along with a .489 slugging percentage makes him an outstanding fantasy option at the catcher position.