MLB Player News

Fermin is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Cubs.

Luis Campusano started Tuesday night at catcher and will be back behind the plate for Wednesday's matinee. It's been a nearly even split in playing time at catcher this season between Fermin (16 starts) and Campusano (14 starts).

Susac (elbow) has begun a hitting program and is expected to resume throwing later this week, per MLB.com.

Susac was placed on the 10-day injured list April 21 (retroactive to April 20) and is expected to miss 2-to-3 weeks due to right elbow neuritis. The 24-year-old catcher has impressed early this season, slashing .478/.500/.652 with five RBI and a run scored across 24 plate appearances in 11 games. Susac may return to splitting reps behind the plate with Patrick Bailey once cleared, but for now, Eric Haase will continue serving as Bailey's backup.

Del Castillo started at designated hitter and went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in Tuesday's 11-2 loss to the Brewers.

Del Castillo, who was removed from the team's previous game Sunday due to a finger injury, only needed Monday's off day to get back in the lineup. He's hit a recent dry spell, going 1-for-16 over the last five contests, which dropped his average to .224 through 14 games.

Hicks was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Dodgers due to an illness, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Hicks is slashing .340/.353/.574 with 14 RBI and seven runs scored across his last 51 plate appearances, but an illness will prevent him from facing the Dodgers on Tuesday. Agustin Ramirez will move behind the plate as a result, opening up the DH spot for Connor Norby.

Rushing is starting as the designated hitter and batting leadoff Tuesday versus the Marlins.

Not only is Tuesday's start Rushing's first in the leadoff role but also his first of the season in the top half of the order. This will be the 25-year-old's third career start as the designated hitter, as that role is typically reserved for Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is not in the batting lineup Tuesday as he focuses on his start as the pitcher.

Del Castillo (finger) is batting fifth as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Brewers.

The 26-year-old departed Sunday's contest due to a left ring finger dislocation, but he won't miss a start following Arizona's team day off Monday. Del Castillo will get another day off from catching since James McCann is forming a battery with Merrill Kelly on Tuesday.

Fermin isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.

Fermin will step out of the lineup Tuesday after going 1-for-11 with an RBI and a run scored across his last three starts. Luis Campusano will handle catching duties instead and bat seventh.

Realmuto (back) took batting practice on the field and did agility in the outfield Tuesday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Realmuto is eligible to return Saturday and it appears that he is trending toward a return then. The catcher landed on the 10-day injured list April 22 due to back spasms after initially tweaking his back the prior week.

The Cubs are "accelerating the catching program" for Ballesteros, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Ballesteros made his second appearance and first start of the season at catcher in Monday's loss to the Padres. He remains the primary designated hitter and No. 3 catcher behind Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya, but Ballesteros will be worked in more behind the plate moving forward. Ballesteros needs eight more appearances at catcher in order to gain eligibility at the position in most fantasy leagues. It sounds like he should get there, which would be a boon for the fantasy prospects of a player who's slashing a ridiculous .387/.435/.710 with five home runs and a 6:12 BB:K.

Murphy (hip) will remain on a rehab assignment with High-A Rome this week, Lindsay Crosby of BravesToday.com reports.

Atlanta wants Murphy to catch back-to-back nine-inning games before it activates the veteran catcher for his season debut, though it's unclear exactly what the target date is for his return. Murphy -- who is just 3-for-23 with a 1:7 BB:K across his first eight rehab contests -- is projected to serve as Atlanta's primary designated hitter and occasional catcher once he's back on the active roster.