MLB Player News

Giants manager Tony Vitello indicated Thursday that Susac could start splitting starts at catcher with Patrick Bailey, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Susac has made only four starts so far this season, but he's gone 9-for-16 with five RBI in the early going. The Rule 5 pick is likely to get exposed to some degree with additional playing time, but he's earned more reps over Bailey, who is slashing just .136/.191/.136.

Ruiz is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh.

Ruiz and Drew Millas have had a fairly even timeshare at catcher this season, and it will be Millas behind the dish for Thursday's matinee. The switch-hitting Ruiz has slashed a mere .182/.200/.333 in the early going this season.

Bart will start at catcher and bat seventh in Thursday's game against the Nationals.

It's the fifth start across the last eight contests for Bart, who could be emerging the 1A to Henry Davis' 1B at catcher for the Pirates. Bart is hitting only .136/.231/.273 this season but did hit his first home run of the season in his last start Tuesday.

Contreras went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in Wednesday's win over the Blue Jays.

Contreras came through for the Brewers in the eighth inning, when his single to right field scored David Hamilton to tie the game. This two-hit performance also extended Contreras' hitting streak to 10 games, a stretch in which he's slashing .350/.435/.475 with a .910 OPS, a home run, six RBI, six runs scored and a 6:5 BB:K across 46 plate appearances.

Stephenson is not in the lineup for Thursday's tilt versus the Giants.

Stephenson started behind the dish in the first two games of the series, so he'll get a breather for Thursday's matinee. P.J. Higgins will do the catching and bat ninth for the Reds.

Rushing went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, a double and two total runs scored in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Mets.

Rushing got a rare chance to play since Shohei Ohtani was in the lineup only as a pitcher, opening up the designated-hitter role. As has been the case early this year, Rushing took advantage of his opportunity with a big performance, driving in half of the Dodgers' runs with his eighth-inning slam to turn the game into a blowout. He's played in just five contests so far, but he's gone 9-for-17 (.529) with four homers, eight RBI, seven runs scored and two doubles. Rushing has already matched his homer total from last season, but he still doesn't have a clear path to playing time aside from the occasional start behind the dish when Will Smith needs to rest his legs.

Fermin was removed from Wednesday's game against the Mariners with an apparent injury, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Fermin was immediately pulled from the game after taking a Brendan Donovan foul tip off his mask in the third inning. He'll presumably be evaluated for a concussion. Meanwhile, Luis Campusano will take over behind the plate and should handle the starting job if Fermin misses any time.

Del Castillo went 2-for-5 with a triple, a home run and five RBI in Wednesday's 8-5 extra-inning win over the Orioles.

Getting the start at catcher and batting cleanup, Del Castillo nearly slugged a homer to left-center field in the third inning, instead settling for his first career triple. The 26-year-old left no doubt in the top of the 10th when he crushed a Tyler Wells fastball 420 feet to right-center for a two-run blast that broke open a 5-5 tie. It was Del Castillo's first long ball of the season, and through his first seven games of 2026 he's batting .346 (9-for-26) with 10 RBI.

Ballesteros is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Ballesteros had served as the Cubs' designated hitter in six of the past seven games but will be riding pine Wednesday while the Phillies send a tough lefty (Jesus Luzardo) to the hill. Seiya Suzuki will get a day off from playing the outfield and will draw the start at DH in the series finale.

Kelly is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Miguel Amaya will step in behind the plate for Kelly, who will be rested after making starts each of the past three days. Kelly is off to a scorching start to April, having recorded a hit in each of his starts while slashing .364/.488/.545 in 10 games overall.