MLB Player News
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Braxton Fulford C | COL
Rockies' Braxton Fulford: Optioned to Triple-A
The Rockies optioned Fulford to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday.
Fulford was promoted to the majors April 14 and smacked his first big-league home run this past Sunday against the Nationals. He appeared in four games (two starts) for the Rockies as the third catcher behind Hunter Goodman and Jacob Stallings. Colorado selected Owen Miller's contract from Albuquerque in a corresponding move.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: In Friday's lineup
Smith (wrist) is starting behind home plate and batting sixth against the Pirates on Friday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Smith injured his left wrist during Tuesday's extra-inning loss to the Cubs while tagging Ian Happ at home plate in the sixth. Austin Barnes got the start Wednesday, but after Thursday's off day, Smith has been cleared to return to the lineup for Friday's series opener. Smith has started the season slashing .350/.453/.567 with one stolen base, eight runs scored, three home runs and 15 RBI in 75 plate appearances.
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Martin Maldonado C | SD
Padres' Martin Maldonado: Sitting Friday
Maldonado is not in the Padres' starting lineup against the Rays on Friday.
Maldonado has started in more games as of late, but he'll rest Friday while Elias Diaz starts behind home plate and bats eighth against Rays right-hander Shane Baz. Maldonado is slashing .225/.244/.300 with one home run and two RBI in 41 plate appearances this season.
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Ivan Herrera DH | STL
Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Aiming for rehab games next week
Herrera (knee) hopes to begin a rehab assignment May 1, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Herrera is making good progress in his recovery from a left knee bone bruise, having run, hit and caught off a pitching machine this week without any setbacks. He should require only a few rehab games before returning to the Cardinals' lineup.
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Francisco Alvarez C | NYM
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Activated ahead of season debut
The Mets activated Alvarez (hand) from the 10-day injured list Friday.
Alvarez is starting at catcher and batting seventh Friday versus the Nationals in what will be his season debut after he missed the first four weeks of the season following surgery on a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. The catcher went 7-for-39 with one home run across 10 rehab contests.
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Hunter Goodman C | COL
Rockies' Hunter Goodman: Homers Thursday
Goodman went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Royals. He went 0-for-4 in the nightcap.
The 25-year-old opened the scoring in Thursday's matinee with a two-out, RBI single off Cole Ragans before extending Colorado's lead to 4-2 with a two-run homer in the third, his fourth long ball this season. Goodman saw his eight-game hitting streak end in the nightcap -- he went 9-for-29 (.310) with two homers and six RBI in that span. He's been serving as the Rockies' primary catcher this season and is slashing .237/.326/.434 with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored across 86 plate appearances.
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Hayden Senger C | NYM
Mets' Hayden Senger: Optioned to minors
Senger was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Manny Gomez of NJ.com reports.
Senger had a brief stretch of regular playing time behind the plate for the Mets but picked up only five hits across 28 at-bats overall. This move comes with the anticipation that Francisco Alvarez (hand) will return Friday, though that transaction has not yet been made official.
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William Contreras C | MIL
Brewers' William Contreras: Sitting down Thursday
Contreras isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.
Contreras has logged a base hit in 15 of his last 16 games, but he'll take a seat Thursday for what will be his second day off of the season. Eric Haase will start behind the plate instead and bat ninth.
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Patrick Bailey C | SF
Giants' Patrick Bailey: Breather in series finale
Bailey is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Brewers, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Bailey caught each of the first three games of the four-game set against the Brewers, so he'll receive a well-earned day off for Thursday's matinee. Sam Huff will be behind the dish and bat eighth for the Giants.
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Jacob Stallings C | BAL
Rockies' Jacob Stallings: Resting for early game
Stallings is out of the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Royals.
Hunter Goodman will be behind the plate for the first game of the day, but expect Stallings to enter the lineup at catcher for the second half of the doubleheader, when rookie Chase Dollander will be on the mound for the Rockies.