MLB Player News

Realmuto went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored in Friday's loss to the Rockies.

The catcher started off the series in Coors Field with a bang, but he doesn't need altitude to produce big numbers -- Realmuto's slashing .356/.356/.667 with three homers, seven RBI and 10 runs over his last 11 games, pushing his OPS on the year up to .895.

Murphy went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run in the Rockies' 11-3 win over the Marlins on Friday.

Starting his second game in three days, Murphy put up another solid offensive performance with this three-hit, two-RBI effort. It's still an extremely small sample, but the 27-year-old backstop has impressed over his 32 at-bats, hitting .344, lacing four doubles and driving in six runs. If he continues to perform like this, he'll make a case for more at-bats ahead of Chris Iannetta, whose .736 OPS won't stand in the way of Murphy starting frequently enough to put up consistent fantasy value.

Stallings was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

The catcher took another trip on the shuttle back to the big leagues with Francisco Cervelli (concussion) landing on the 7-day disabled list. He'll serve as Elias Diaz's backup for however long Cervelli must remain sidelined. Stallings is hitting a useful .289/.335/.396 slash for Indianapolis but has not yet taken a big-league at-bat in 2018.

Barnhart is not in the lineup against the Cubs on Friday.

Barnhart will receive a standard breather following three straight starts. In his absence, Curt Casali will set up behind the plate and bat seventh.

Contreras is not in the lineup against Cincinnati on Friday.

Contreras will take a seat after starting the past three games behind the plate, while going 0-for-11 with one walk and five strikeouts during that span. In his absence, Chris Gimenez will catch Jose Quintana and bat eighth.

Grandal will not start Friday against the Mets, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.

After a hot start, Grandal has cooled off significantly. Since the start of May, he's hitting .177/.262/.355, though he does have seven home runs. Austin Barnes will start behind the plate Friday.

Murphy is not in the lineup Thursday against the Mets, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Murphy went 2-for-4 in Wednesday's win -- his fifth start in six games -- but he'll hit the bench with a southpaw (Steven Matz) starting for the Mets in this one. Chris Iannetta will start behind the dish and hit sixth.

Mesoraco is not in the lineup against the Rockies on Thursday.

Mesoraco will head to the bench for a standard day off after going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI during Wednesday's game. In his absence, Kevin Plawecki will catch for Steven Matz and bat sixth.

Hedges (elbow) could return for this weekend's series against the Giants, MLB.com's AJ Cassavell reports.

After missing a projected return date prior to the Padres' current two-game set versus the Athletics, Hedges could make his return to the majors sometime during a four-game series against the Giants that begins Thursday. The backstop has gone 9-for-23 with a home run and four RBI during his current seven-game rehab stint. Cassavell expects Hedges to reclaim his starting role upon activation, despite his lackluster .173/.235/.293 slash line in 24 games prior to hitting the disabled list. When healthy, the 25-year-old provides some pop from the catcher position (18 homers in 120 games last year), but typically with a low batting average.

Plawecki went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a strikeout in Tuesday's loss to the Rockies.

Plawecki delivered a run-scoring single in the second inning to knot the score at two, but the Rockies would end up exploding for six runs in the third to pull away early. The RBI was just his third of the season -- and first since May 28. Though the 27-year-old is slashing just .213/.360/.295, he's alternated starts behind the plate with Devin Mesoraco over the last eight games and should continue to more or less split time as neither player has inspired much confidence at the plate.