MLB Player News
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Freddy Fermin C | KC
Royals' Freddy Fermin: Four hits in big win
Fermin went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 10-3 win over the White Sox.
Fermin launched a two-run shot off Drew Thorpe in the second inning, giving the Royals an early 3-0 lead. The 29-year-old backstop continues to see a nearly full-time role as Salvador Perez slides out from behind the plate and gets work at DH and first base as well, and over 18 games in July, Fermin is batting .345 (19-for-55) with two homers, eight runs and eight RBI.
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Kyle Higashioka C | SD
Padres' Kyle Higashioka: Resting up Wednesday
Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Higashioka will pick up some rest after he started at catcher in each of the Friars' last three games. Luis Campusano will step in for Higashioka behind the plate while batting eighth.
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Victor Caratini C | HOU
Astros' Victor Caratini: Playing time picking up
Caratini will start at designated hitter and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The Astros have shown more of a willingness to use Yordan Alvarez in left field of late, and it's helped open up more playing time for Caratini. He's now started in three of the last four games, with the previous two starts coming at catcher while fellow backstop Yainer Diaz served as Houston's DH. In addition to providing quality defense behind the plate, Caratini has held his own with the bat this season, hitting .276 with five home runs and 19 RBI over 128 plate appearances.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Nursing wrist injury
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Moreno is dealing with a sore left wrist after being struck by a foul ball Tuesday, but Moreno will be available off the bench for Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.
Since Moreno started behind the plate in Tuesday night's 17-0 win and the Diamondbacks are closing their series with the Nationals with a day game, he would have been a candidate to sit Wednesday even if he was 100 percent healthy. The wrist issue will provide further reason for the Diamondbacks to give Moreno the day off, though the injury shouldn't be anything that costs him time moving forward. The expectation is that Moreno will be back behind the plate in Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh following Thursday's team off day.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Receiving afternoon off
Moreno is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals.
The Diamondbacks will hand out rest to multiple regulars for the matinee contest after Tuesday night's 17-0 dismantling of the Nationals. Jose Herrera will fill in behind the plate for Moreno, who was one of several Arizona batters to get in on the act Tuesday with two hits, three RBI and two runs over his three at-bats.
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Jonah Heim C | TEX
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Resting up Wednesday
Heim is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
After starting in each of the previous five contests, Heim will retreat to the bench as the Rangers close their series in St. Louis with an afternoon contest. Trade-deadline pickup Carson Kelly will draw his first start with the Rangers, filling for Heim at catcher while batting eighth.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Braves' Sean Murphy: Receiving rest Wednesday
Murphy is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
Murphy is getting a breather for Wednesday's matinee after he had started behind the plate both of the past two days. Travis d'Arnaud will spell Murphy at catcher, forming a battery with starting pitcher Chris Sale.
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James McCann C | BAL
Orioles' James McCann: Catching in Wednesday's game
McCann (nose) will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Despite suffering multiple nasal fractures when he was hit in the face by a fastball while he was batting in the first inning of Game 1 of Monday's doubeheader with Toronto, McCann was able to stay in the game. After re-evaluating McCann on Tuesday, the Orioles made him available off the bench for their eventual 6-2 win, and he'll now draw back into the lineup for the series finale while top backstop Adley Rutschman gets a day off. According to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, McCann took batting practice Wednesday while wearing a protective mask, but it doesn't sound like it'll be anything that inhibits his vision at the plate or while catching.