MLB Player News

Susac (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Susac has missed the last two weeks of action with right elbow neuritis, but he's upped his workouts recently and is ready to test things out in a game setting. The rookie catcher had worked his way into a timeshare with Patrick Bailey before getting injured, and with Bailey still struggling, Susac should play plenty once he's activated.

Fermin will start at catcher and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Giants.

Though Luis Campusano boasts an OPS that's 447 points higher than Fermin's season mark of .511, the latter's defensive acumen appears to be enough to keep him atop the depth chart for now. Fermin will stick in the starting nine Wednesday for the fourth time in six games.

Campusano is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.

The playing time at catcher appears to have tilted back in favor of Freddy Fermin, who will draw his fourth start in six games while Campusano is relegated to the bench. Fermin is regarded as the superior defender of the two, but Campusano has been far more productive at the dish with a .958 OPS in 58 plate appearances.

Mack went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Orioles.

A third-inning single by the rookie catcher brought home Kyle Stowers, giving Mack his first hit and RBI in MLB, and he added another knock in the eighth. The 23-year-old top prospect will get a long look in the starting role from the Marlins, with Liam Hicks -- who got the start at first base Tuesday before taking over behind the plate for the top of the ninth after Mack was lifted for a pinch runner -- seeing more of his playing time at 1B and DH as a result.

Smith is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Houston.

Smith started at catcher in the first two games of the series, so he will get some rest during Wednesday's matinee. Dalton Rushing will be behind the dish and bat seventh in the rubber match.

Hicks went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday's 9-7 loss to the Orioles.

Getting the start at first base before shifting behind the plate late in the game after rookie catcher Joe Mack was lifted for a pinch runner, Hicks continued his breakout campaign. His seventh-inning solo shot off Anthony Nunez was his eighth long ball of the season in just 33 contests, while the four hits tied his career high. Hicks will likely see most of his playing time at first base or DH while the Marlins take a long look at Mack, but his bat should be in the lineup nearly every day given his .321/.372/.575 slash line and 32 RBI, one back of MLB leader Matt Olson.

Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a second RBI in Tuesday's 10-5 loss to the Padres.

Rodriguez has started each of the last two games behind the dish. He went 0-for-3 in his debut Monday, but he didn't have to wait long for his first big-league homer, taking Jeremiah Estrada deep in the seventh inning. Rodriguez is known to have a good eye at the plate and steady contact skills, but that comes with just modest power. The Giants also have Patrick Bailey and Eric Haase on the big-league roster, as well as Daniel Susac (elbow) on the injured list, so the playing-time battle behind the dish may just be heating up. Of the group, Rodriguez likely has the most promising long-term bat, but his defense could initially limit his opportunities. The Giants have a fairly crowded infield, but Rodriguez displayed versatility in the minor leagues, seeing time at first base, second base, third base and left field, which could give him more avenues to playing time in the majors.

Murphy isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against Seattle.

Murphy went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts during his season debut Monday, and Atlanta will keep him on the bench Wednesday while the team looks to ease him back into major-league action following his return from hip surgery. Drake Baldwin will handle catching duties, and Dominic Smith will start as the designated hitter.

Pages is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

Ivan Herrera is getting a start at catcher Tuesday, and Nolan Gorman is slotting in at designated hitter. Pages went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the first game of the series Monday.

Smith went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run and an RBI in an 8-3 win against Houston on Monday.

Smith got a rest day Sunday and responded to his return to the lineup with his third three-hit performance of the season. The All-Star backstop's knocks included a pair of doubles, which were his first extra-base hits since April 24. Smith's power has been somewhat lacking this season -- he has a modest three home runs and three doubles through 30 games -- but he's slashing a nice .280/.348/.400 with 12 runs, 16 RBI and an 11:19 BB:K.