MLB Player News
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Ethan Salas C | SD
Padres' Ethan Salas: Cleared for baseball activities
Salas (back) was recently cleared to resume baseball activities at the Padres' spring training complex and will be one of the San Diego prospects who is set to participate in the Arizona Fall League, which begins Oct. 6., MLB.com reports.
Salas remains on Double-A San Antonio's 60-day injured list and doesn't appear in line to return to action over the final week of the Texas League season, but the young backstop looks like he could be ready to play at some point during the AFL, which runs through mid-November. Even if Salas hasn't progressed enough in his recovery from a lower back stress reaction to see action by the end of AFL play, he'll likely take part in winter ball to make up for the at-bats he lost out on this season. Salas' last appearance with San Antonio came back on April 17.
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James McCann C | ARI
Diamondbacks' James McCann: Goes yard in victory
McCann went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in Sunday's 6-4 victory at Minnesota.
The veteran backstop gave his team a 4-2 lead with a 407-foot, three-run blast off Twins starter Bailey Ober in the fourth. McCann is playing sparingly in a backup role with the Diamondbacks, slashing .258/.330/.423 with four homers, 15 runs scored and 13 RBI across 109 plate appearances this season. Unless anything happens to Adrian Del Castillo or Gabriel Moreno, the 35-year-old is not fantasy relevant.
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Ben Rortvedt C | LAD
Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Takes over as primary catcher
Rortvedt will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Giants.
Rortvedt will pick up his fourth consecutive start and looks poised to serve as the Dodgers' primary backstop until Los Angeles gets one of Will Smith (hand) or Dalton Rushing (shin) back from the injured list. Since being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 4, Rortvedt has gone 7-for-22 (.318 average) with two doubles, one walk, five runs and two RBI in eight games.
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Taking seat Sunday
Stephenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Stephenson will be given the afternoon off after he started behind the plate in each of the Reds' last four games while going 3-for-15 with two home runs, a walk, five RBI and three runs. Jose Trevino will handle catching duties Sunday.
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Carson Kelly C | CHC
Cubs' Carson Kelly: Resting up Sunday
Kelly is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Kelly will get some rest for the series finale after he started at catcher in each of the team's last four contests. Reese McGuire will form a battery with starting pitcher Matthew Boyd on Sunday.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Resting for series finale
Moreno is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.
Moreno will rest for Sunday's matinee after he had started behind the plate in each of Arizona's last three contests. James McCann will handle catching duties in the series finale in Minnesota.
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Jimmy Crooks C | STL
Cardinals' Jimmy Crooks: Sitting again Sunday
Crooks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
The left-handed-hitting Crooks was expected to get a look as the Cardinals' top backstop over the final few weeks of the season, but he's now sat in four of St. Louis' last five matchups, with three of his absences coming against right-handed pitching. Entering Sunday, the 72-77 Cardinals sit just four games behind the pace for the final wild-card spot in the National League, which may be a factor in the team's decision to lean more heavily of late on Pedro Pages, who lacks Crooks' upside as a hitter but is a more trusted defender behind the dish.
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William Contreras C | MIL
Brewers' William Contreras: Receiving Sunday off
Contreras is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Contreras is batting .324 (12-for-34) through 11 games in September, though his lone extra-base hit (a double) has resulted in a .351 slugging percentage. The 27-year-old will receive a rare day off Sunday after the Brewers were the first team in MLB to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
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Drake Baldwin C | ATL
Braves' Drake Baldwin: Resting Sunday
Baldwin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Baldwin had started in each of the last nine games -- eight at catcher, one at designated hitter -- but he'll get a well-deserved breather for Sunday's matinee. Sandy Leon will step in behind the plate in the rookie's stead.