MLB Player News
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Carson Kelly C | CHC
Cubs' Carson Kelly: Serving as DH Monday
Kelly is serving as the designated hitter and batting fifth in Monday's game against the Marlins.
With Ian Happ (oblique) out for the third straight game, the Cubs have shifted Seiya Suzuki into the outfield, which has opened up the DH role. Justin Turner filled in the last two days, but it will be Kelly on Monday, with Miguel Amaya getting the nod behind the plate. Kelly has been scorching hot to begin the year with a 1.151 OPS across 24 games.
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Joey Bart C | PIT
Pirates' Joey Bart: Serving as designated hitter
Bart is serving as the designated hitter and batting in the cleanup spot against the Mets on Monday.
With Oneil Cruz (back) sidelined for a second straight game, Andrew McCutchen will move to the outfield, which opens the DH spot for Bart while Henry Davis starts behind home plate. Bart went 6-for-12 with three RBI during the Pirates' three-game weekend series against Atlanta.
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Joey Bart C | PIT
Pirates' Joey Bart: Strong weekend series
Bart went 2-for-5 with two RBI on Sunday against Atlanta.
Bart went hitless in Friday's game against Atlanta but closed the series 6-for-12 with three RBI, serving as the catcher in all three contests. He has maintained a .291 average and .411 on-base percentage across 124 plate appearances this season, though he has only six extra-base hits.
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Hunter Goodman C | COL
Rockies' Hunter Goodman: Drives in five runs
Goodman went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer, a triple, a double, five RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's win over the Rockies.
Goodman got his day started with a three-run blast in the opening frame. He followed that up with a two-run triple in the third and a double in the seventh, leaving him only a single shy of hitting for the cycle. Since April 25, Goodman is hitting .349/.373/.556 with two homers, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored. He's maintained an aggressive approach at the plate, as it's been 63 plate appearances since his last walk, but he's been one of the few bright spots for this dismal Rockies team and has produced solid numbers both in Denver (.827 OPS) and on the road (.846 OPS) this year.
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Luis Torrens C | NYM
Mets' Luis Torrens: Suffers groin injury
Torrens exited Sunday's 6-2 win over the Cubs in the sixth inning after being struck in the groin area by a foul ball, John Sparaco of SI.com reports.
Torrens went 1-for-2 with a triple and an RBI before suffering the injury on an errant foul tip while he was behind the plate in the top of the sixth inning. Francisco Alvarez came off the bench to replace Torrens, who can be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener versus the Pirates.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Receiving breather Sunday
Moreno is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Moreno started the first three games of the series and will get a breather Sunday after going 4-for-13 with a grand slam and a stolen base. Jose Herrera will take over behind the plate and form a battery with starting pitcher Zac Gallen in the series finale.
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Receiving Sunday off
Stephenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
It's likely just a standard rest day for Stephenson, who started nine straight games after being reinstated from the injured list May 2. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a good start to the campaign with three doubles, a homer and a .794 OPS through 36 plate appearances. Jose Trevino will step in to catch righty Chase Petty on Sunday.
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William Contreras C | MIL
Brewers' William Contreras: Making third straight start
Contreras will start at catcher and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the Rays.
Though he sat out Wednesday's 9-1 loss to Houston, Contreras confirmed that he planned to continue playing through a fractured middle finger on his catching hand. The two-time All-Star caught eight innings Friday and nine more Saturday while going 1-for-7 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Even with the Brewers playing a day game Sunday, Contreras won't be deployed as a designated hitter and will remain behind the plate, a sign the coaching and training staffs are comfortable with his health.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Braves' Sean Murphy: Receiving afternoon off
Murphy is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Drake Baldwin will get the nod behind the plate while Murphy rests for the day game. Since the beginning of May, Murphy has gone 4-for-26 with a 3:10 BB:K. His ongoing slump could compel Atlanta manager Brian Snitker to turn the catcher spot into more of a timeshare between Murphy and Baldwin, who owns an .808 OPS on the season.