MLB Player News

Mesoraco is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Cubs.

After starting three straight, Mesoraco will be given the day off for the afternoon contest. April has been a struggle for the Reds' primary backstop, as Mesoraco has slashed just .143/.234/.167 over the season's first 47 plate appearances. He'll give way to Tucker Barnhart on Sunday.

Hedges was placed on the 7-day, minor league DL on Saturday due to a hand contusion, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

After Christian Bethancourt won the backup catching gig to Derek Norris this spring, Hedges was assigned to Triple-A El Paso, where he's spent the entirety of the season. Prior to the injury, Hedges put together a .333/.385/.583 line with two homers, nine RBI, and seven runs in 36 at-bats.

Realmuto is not in Saturday's lineup against the Giants, the Miami Herald's Andre Fernandez reports.

He has started four of the last five games, and will get the day off again Saturday with Jose Fernandez on the mound. Jeff Mathis will start at catcher and hit eighth Saturday against Jake Peavy and the Giants.

Grandal is out of the lineup Saturday, the Los Angeles Times' Andy McCullough reports.

He is 4-for-8 over his last three games, with three walks also mixed in over that span, but after catching three straight games, the Dodgers will turn to A.J. Ellis behind the dish.

Bethancourt is starting at catcher and batting sixth Thursday against the Pirates.

Derek Norris is in the midst of a modest four-game hit streak, but Bethancourt will assume the catching duties in his place Thursday. He hasn't had many opportunities to play so far this season, but he does have a double and an RBI to his name in those limited appearances.

Murphy has been on the disabled list at Triple-A Albuquerque with a strained left oblique to start the season.

Had Murphy been healthy, he could have served as a fill-in option for Nick Hundley, who is currently on MLB's 7-day DL with a concussion. However, Hundley will probably come off the DL before Murphy, meaning Murphy will get back in the swing of things at Triple-A and attempt to earn a call-up in May or June.

Realmuto is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

Realmuto went just 2-for-22 over his last seven games, and the Marlins are facing Nationals ace Max Scherzer on Thursday, so Realmuto will receive the day off to clear his head. Jeff Mathis will get the start behind the plate in Realmuto's place.

Grandal is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Braves, according to Andy McCullough of the LA Times.

Grandal tallied two hits Wednesday for the third time in four games, but he will get a day off Thursday with Clayton Kershaw on the mound and the Dodgers and Braves playing an early afternoon affair. A.J. Ellis, who regularly catches Kershaw's status, will do so again Thursday.

Rupp is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Mets, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports.

Rupp has been solid at the plate this season, batting .286 with three doubles, but he'll take a seat Wednesday in what appears to be a normal day off. Carlos Ruiz will slot in behind the plate and bat fifth in his place.

Mesoraco is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies, according to MLB.com's Jamie Ramsey.

Mesoraco will be held out of the lineup Wednesday for the second time in three games, but he remains the Reds' primary catcher, and is likely just getting the day off with the Reds playing a day game following a night game. Tucker Barnhart will get the start behind the plate in Mesoraco's place.