MLB Player News
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Keibert Ruiz C | WAS
Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Hitting bench Monday
Ruiz is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.
Ruiz and Drew Millas have split time behind the dish evenly through the Nationals' first five games, with both catchers drawing five starts apiece. Though Ruiz has been the better producer thus far, he's still holding down a modest .222/.211/.444 slash line through his first 19 plate appearances. He may need to raise his performance before taking on a larger share of the catching duties.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Not in Monday's lineup
Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.
Smith will hit the bench for a second straight game, with Dalton Rushing working behind home plate and batting eighth. The decision to hold Smith out is a deliberate one, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noting Monday that he wants Smith to be the catcher for Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani for Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Smith has gone 8-for-29 (.276 average) with two home runs and five RBI to open the season.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Undergoing thumb surgery Tuesday
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Kirk will undergo surgery Tuesday to repair his fractured left thumb, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Kirk landed on the 10-day injured list this past weekend after being diagnosed with a fracture, and a visit with Dr. Thomas Graham on Monday led to a recommendation of surgery. The fact that Kirk needed an operation to fix the fracture could lead to a longer absence, but a formal timetable for the catcher's return won't be known until after surgery is completed. According to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, the typical timeline for players to return from thumb surgery ranges from 3-to-6 weeks.
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Ryan Jeffers C | MIN
Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Getting breather Monday
Jeffers is not in the lineup for Monday's tilt against the Tigers.
Victor Caratini will be behind the dish in Monday's series opener. Jeffers is off to a slow start offensively this season, going 4-for-24 without an RBI across his first seven contests. He'll get a day to regroup and should be back in the lineup Tuesday.
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Liam Hicks C | MIA
Marlins' Liam Hicks: Idle against southpaw
Hicks is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.
Hicks has gotten off to a sizzling start to the season with a 1.164 OPS over 29 plate appearances, but the Marlins will shield the left-handed batter from southpaw Brandon Williamson in Monday's series opener. At least until the Marlins return the likes of Christopher Morel (oblique) and Kyle Stowers (hamstring) from the injured list, Hicks should have a clear path to regular at-bats versus right-handed pitching while making starts at catcher, first base or designated hitter.
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Pedro Pages C | STL
Cardinals' Pedro Pages: Not starting Monday
Pages is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus the Nationals.
Pages will begin the contest on the bench as Ivan Herrera gets a start at catcher. The 27-year-old Pages has drawn starts in six of 10 games thus far and appeared off the bench in one additional contest.
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Miguel Amaya C | CHC
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Playing time on upswing
Amaya will start at designated hitter and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Rays.
Amaya will remain in the lineup for the fifth time in six games, with three of his starts coming versus lefties and two coming against righties during that stretch. The 27-year-old has gone 5-for-12 with a pair of extra-base hits to begin the season, and his hot start appears to have helped him at least temporarily supplant Moises Ballesteros as the Cubs' preferred option at DH.
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Nick Fortes C | TB
Rays' Nick Fortes: Back in starting nine Monday
Fortes will start at catcher and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Cubs, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
After taking a seat in favor of Hunter Feduccia in both of the Rays' previous two games, Fortes will be back behind the dish Monday in the team's home opener. Fortes has been the more productive of the Rays' two catchers in the early going, producing a .967 OPS over 27 plate appearances.
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Drake Baldwin C | ATL
Braves' Drake Baldwin: Drives in four in three-hit game
Baldwin went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Sunday's extra-inning loss against the Diamondbacks.
Baldwin powered Atlanta's offense, accounting for four of the team's five runs in the contest. The 25-year-old catcher got things started early with a solo homer, his fourth of the season, as the second batter of the game and added a pair of RBI singles, including a clutch knock in the ninth inning to tie the game. The hot start continues for Baldwin, who is slashing .300/.378/.625 with 12 RBI across 45 plate appearances to begin his second season in the majors.
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Tyler Soderstrom C | ATH
Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom: Drives in three, scores three runs
Soderstrom went 1-for-4 with a three-run triple, three runs scored and two walks in Sunday's 12-10 win over the Astros.
With the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Soderstrom cleared them with a three-run triple. It was just the second triple of his career. He scored on a Brent Rooker sacrifice fly one batter later. Soderstrom then walked and scored in the seventh and 10th innings. The left fielder is slashing .212/.316/.333 with three extra-base hits, six RBI, five runs scored and a 5:11 BB:K across 38 plate appearances to begin the season but is still looking for his first home run.