MLB Player News

Amaya will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Heading into the regular season, Amaya looked to be the Cubs' clear No. 2 catcher, but he's operated in more of a timeshare with Yan Gomes behind the plate. The two backstops have now made three starts apiece over the Cubs' first six games, with all three of Amaya's starts coming within the last four of those contests. The 25-year-old will likely need to capture a larger role before becoming a more viable roster option in mixed leagues that start just one catcher, but he might be a worthy pickup in two-catcher leagues or NL-only leagues based on how frequently he's been playing early on this season.

The Pirates placed Delay on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with right knee inflammation, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Delay's placement on the IL is retroactive to Monday, so he'll be eligible for activation as soon as April 11. However, because he still has three minor-league options remaining, Delay seems more likely to be headed for Triple-A Indianapolis once activated after the Pirates acquired fellow catcher Joey Bart from the Giants on Tuesday. Bart was added to the 26-man roster Wednesday in a corresponding move, and since he's a former top prospect with no options remaining, he'll likely move ahead of Delay on the organizational catching depth chart. In addition to Bart, the Pirates have 2021 No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis and veteran Yasmani Grandal (foot) -- who is on the IL while he recovers from plantar fasciitis -- ahead of Delay in the pecking order behind the dish.

Stallings will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.

Stallings will get his second start through the Rockies' first seven games of the season. The 2021 Gold Glove Award winner had spent much of the past two seasons in a near-even timeshare at catcher with Nick Fortes in Miami, but Stallings now finds himself as the clear No. 2 option in Colorado after signing a one-year deal with the club in January.

Higashioka will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Higashioka will pick up just his second start through the Padres' first nine contests of the season while Luis Campusano rests for the day game after he played all nine innings behind the dish in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Cardinals. Assuming health prevails, Campusano looks primed to shoulder one of the heavier workloads among No. 1 catchers in baseball this season, so Higashioka's opportunities are expected to remain infrequent.

Diaz is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.

It's a routine day off for Diaz, who is 3-for-17 with a home run in his first five games this season. Jacob Stallings will do the catching for starting pitcher Cal Quantrill.

Raleigh is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

Raleigh will get a rest for the day game after he logged nine innings behind the dish and went 2-for-4 with a run scored in a 5-2 loss Tuesday night. Seby Zavala will handle the catching duties in the series finale.

Campusano is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Cardinals, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

With it being a day game after a night game, it makes sense to give Campusano a day off. Kyle Higashioka will do the catching for Joe Musgrove as the Padres attempt to salvage a game in the series.

Moreno is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.

Moreno will get a respite after he was behind the dish for both of the last two days, with Tucker Barnhart checking in for him at catcher. The young backstop is hitting .211 with four runs and five RBI through Arizona's first six games.

Langeliers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Langeliers had started behind the plate in each of Oakland's last three games and slugged his first home run of the season Tuesday, so he'll presumably just be getting a breather Wednesday in a day game after a night game. Kyle McCann will handle the catching duties for the Athletics in the series finale.

Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus Atlanta.

The veteran backstop will get a breather for the day game after he caught all nine innings of Tuesday's 3-2 win. Korey Lee will step in behind the dish as a replacement for Maldonado, who has gone hitless with one walk through his first 12 plate appearances of 2024.