MLB Player News
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Receiving Sunday off
Stephenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
It's likely just a standard rest day for Stephenson, who started nine straight games after being reinstated from the injured list May 2. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a good start to the campaign with three doubles, a homer and a .794 OPS through 36 plate appearances. Jose Trevino will step in to catch righty Chase Petty on Sunday.
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Falling into timeshare arrangement
Wong is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
After going 3-for-4 with a home run and a walk in Saturday's 10-1 win, Carlos Narvaez will be rewarded with another start behind the dish. The Red Sox have turned their catching situation into a timeshare with Wong stumbling to a .396 OPS over his first 42 plate appearances this season. Narvaez, meanwhile, owns a .730 OPS across 102 plate appearances.
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Ben Rortvedt C | NYM
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Sitting against righty
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Rortvedt had started each of the Rays' last five matchups against right-handed pitchers, but he'll give way to Danny Jansen behind the dish Sunday versus Chad Patrick. The arrangement between the two backstops hasn't been paying off lately; Rortvedt and Jansen have gone a combined 3-for-29 through the Rays' first nine games in May.
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William Contreras C | MIL
Brewers' William Contreras: Making third straight start
Contreras will start at catcher and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the Rays.
Though he sat out Wednesday's 9-1 loss to Houston, Contreras confirmed that he planned to continue playing through a fractured middle finger on his catching hand. The two-time All-Star caught eight innings Friday and nine more Saturday while going 1-for-7 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Even with the Brewers playing a day game Sunday, Contreras won't be deployed as a designated hitter and will remain behind the plate, a sign the coaching and training staffs are comfortable with his health.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Braves' Sean Murphy: Receiving afternoon off
Murphy is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Drake Baldwin will get the nod behind the plate while Murphy rests for the day game. Since the beginning of May, Murphy has gone 4-for-26 with a 3:10 BB:K. His ongoing slump could compel Atlanta manager Brian Snitker to turn the catcher spot into more of a timeshare between Murphy and Baldwin, who owns an .808 OPS on the season.
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Pedro Pages C | STL
Cardinals' Pedro Pages: Set to lose time to Herrera
Pages is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Pages started behind the dish in each of the previous three games, but he's likely to see his playing time take a hit moving forward after the Cardinals activated No. 1 backstop Ivan Herrera (knee) from the injured list Friday. Herrera has made both of his first two starts since returning as a designated hitter, but he should see the bulk of his starts as a catcher when the Cardinals face righties.