MLB Player News

Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

After submitting a lowly .404 OPS in 48 games with the White Sox before being released last July, Maldonado has enjoyed a relative resurgence in San Diego so far this season. The 38-year-old backstop continues to provide most of his value behind the plate, but he's held his own with the bat so far, slashing .250/.276/.357 over 29 plate appearances. As a result, Maldonado has moved into a timeshare at catcher with Elias Diaz, who will be back in the lineup Wednesday after hitting the bench in five of the past seven games. The playing time will likely tilt back in Diaz's favor eventually, but the distribution of starts could be relatively even while he and Maldonado are performing at a similar level offensively.

Torrens is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

Torrens will cede catching duties to Hayden Senger while the Mets wrap up their series in Minnesota with a day game after a night game. When healthy, Torrens has served as the Mets' No. 1 backstop this season and has produced an .825 OPS over 40 plate appearances, but he'll move into the backup role in the near future with Francisco Alvarez (hand) in the midst of a rehab assignment and closing in on a return from the 10-day injured list.

Pages is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.

Pages will get a breather for the series finale after making starts at catcher Monday and Tuesday. Yohel Pozo will replace Pages behind the plate Wednesday.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that Alvarez is "fine" after having to exit Tuesday's rehab game with Double-A Binghamton following a hit-by-pitch on his surgically repaired left hand, SNY.tv reports.

Alvarez initially stayed in the game after being plunked but was eventually removed. However, he has evidently checked out fine and the incident shouldn't alter when he will be activated for his season debut, which will be soon. Alvarez had surgery back in early March on a fractured hamate bone in his left hand.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Wednesday that the team is hopeful Herrera (knee) can begin a running and catching program this weekend, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Herrera has progressed to hitting in the batting cage and playing catch and could take another step forward in his rehab this weekend. If that happens, the club will have a better idea on a timetable for his return. When the Cardinals announced last week that Herrera had been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee, he was estimated to be facing a four-week recovery timeline.

Alvarez was removed from Tuesday's rehab game with Double-A Binghamton after being hit on his surgically repaired left hand by a pitch, Ezra Lombardi of New York Mets on SI reports.

After homering in his second plate appearance Tuesday, Alvarez was struck by an Eiberson Castellano offering in the top of the sixth inning. Alvarez initially remained in the game but was replaced at catcher in the bottom of the seventh. It's encouraging that Alvarez initially stayed in the game, but he will be examined and the Mets should have an update on his condition Wednesday. If he checks out fine, Alvarez could be ready to make his season debut soon.

Smith went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Rockies.

The backstop took Ryan Feltner deep in the third inning, driving the first pitch he saw over the fence in left field. Smith has reeled off three straight multi-hit performances, and through 16 games on the season he's slashing .367/.475/.551 with two homers, one steal, six runs and 12 RBI.

Herrera (knee) played catch Tuesday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

It's his first bit of baseball activity since he landed on the 10-day injured list just over a week ago with a bone bruise in his left knee. Herrera will be brought along slowly, with the anticipation that he will be shelved for at least four weeks. Pedro Pages has been operating as the Cardinals' primary catcher in Herrera's stead.

Realmuto went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Giants.

Realmuto got the Phillies on the board in the second inning, when he took Justin Verlander deep to left-center field for a 387-foot solo homer, and the former brought in another run when his single in the sixth inning brought Kyle Schwarber home. Tuesday was Realmuto's first game since April 2 in which he recorded an RBI. He's slashing .245/.327/.367 with four stolen bases, one home run and five RBI in 55 plate appearances this season.

Kelly (hand) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres.

Kelly will rest for a second consecutive day after taking a pitch off his hand during Sunday's game. Miguel Amaya will catch for Shota Imanaga and bat eighth Tuesday.