MLB Player News

  • Royals' Freddy Fermin: Sitting out Monday

    Fermin is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Guardians.

    Fermin was in the lineup for each of the last three games after Vinnie Pasquantino (thumb) landed on the injured list, but he will begin Monday's contest on the bench. Salvador Perez will start behind the plate for the series opener against the Guardians.

  • Ivan Herrera C | STL

    Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Not in Monday's lineup

    Herrera is not in the lineup for Monday's game in Milwaukee.

    In nine games since Willson Contreras (finger) went on the 10-day injured list, Herrera has started five games at catcher for the Cardinals, while Pedro Pages has garnered four starts. Pages will handle the catching duties for the series opener versus the Brewers.

  • Orioles' David Banuelos: Removed from 40-man roster

    The Orioles designated Banuelos for assignment Monday.

    Banuelos had just been recalled Sunday when rosters expanded. However, the Orioles have decided it was more important for them to have infield protection in the form of Nick Maton -- whose contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk -- than a third catcher in Banuelos.

  • Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Three hits in blowout loss

    Barnes went 3-for-4 with one RBI in Sunday's 14-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

    Barnes' three-hit game was a small bright spot in an otherwise awful performance for the Dodgers. The backup catcher has gone 5-for-8 over three contests since he returned from a fractured big toe sustained in mid-August. Through 139 plate appearances, Barnes is slashing .266/.336/.315 with one home run, 11 RBI, 10 runs scored and two stolen bases. He is unlikely to challenge Will Smith for a starting role, but Barnes should be expected in the lineup any time the Dodgers have a day game immediately after a night game.

  • James McCann C | BAL

    Orioles' James McCann: Goes deep in win

    McCann went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's win against the Rockies.

    McCann accounted for Baltimore's only two extra-base hits during the 6-1 victory. He ripped a two-run homer in the fourth inning followed by a double in the ninth. It was his fifth home run of the year and second in his last five appearances. McCann is slashing .223/.270/.348 with 13 extra-base hits and 22 RBI through 200 plate appearances.

  • Orioles' David Banuelos: Moves up from Triple-A

    The Orioles selected Banuelos' contract from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.

    The addition of Banuelos gives Baltimore some extra insurance at catcher behind Adley Rutschman and James McCann, but the 27-year-old will likely play sparingly until the Orioles' playoff positioning is solidified. Banuelos -- who previously made his big-league debut in April before being cast off the 40-man roster -- has slashed .225/.360/.352 over 86 plate appearances with Norfolk this season.

  • Braves' Travis d'Arnaud: Poaching playing time from Murphy

    D'Arnaud will start at catcher and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Phillies.

    Atlanta's timeshare at catcher has tilted in favor of d'Arnaud lately, as he'll pick up his sixth start in nine games Sunday. D'Arnaud holds an 89-point edge in OPS (.774 to .685) over Murphy this season, and that disparity may be enough for the former to see the larger share of playing time behind the dish despite the latter's bigger contract.

  • Sean Murphy C | ATL

    Braves' Sean Murphy: Losing work to d'Arnaud

    Murphy is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

    Murphy has now started just three times in nine games and may be moving into the shorter side of a timeshare at catcher with Travis d'Arnaud. The 29-year-old backstop has been a major disappointment in the second season of a six-year, $73 million contract, having submitted a career-low .685 OPS through 210 plate appearances for Atlanta.

  • Diamondbacks' Adrian Del Castillo: Idle against lefty

    Del Castillo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

    The lefty-hitting Del Castillo will hit the bench for the third time in four games, with each of those absences coming against left-handed pitchers. The rookie backstop still appears to be locked into the strong side of a platoon with Jose Herrera while top catcher Gabriel Moreno (adductor) is on the injured list.

  • Will Smith C | LAD

    Dodgers' Will Smith: Receiving rest Sunday

    Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

    Austin Barnes will spell Smith behind the dish after the latter catcher started in both of the first two games of the series. Despite banging out two hits in Saturday's 8-6 win, Smith still endured a tough August, slashing just .194/.298/.319 with two home runs, 10 RBI and 12 runs on the month.

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