MLB Player News

Rutschman isn't starting Thursday against the Royals, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Rutschman is resting after he went 1-for-8 with a strikeout over the last two games. Robinson Chirinos will start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Hedges isn't in the lineup Thursday against Oakland.

Hedges went 1-for-8 with an RBI and a strikeout over his last two games and will be out of the lineup Thursday for the fourth time in the last six matchups. Luke Maile will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Raleigh went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a win over the Astros on Wednesday.

Raleigh uncorked his seventh long ball of the season at a particularly timely juncture, as his 386-foot blast to right center in the fourth inning with Abraham Toro aboard knotted the game at 3-3. The young backstop still carries an abysmal .167 average and .232 on-base percentage for the season, but he's now left the yard three times in his last six games while producing a .300/.333/.800 slash line in that sample of 21 plate appearances.

Murphy went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in a loss to Atlanta on Wednesday.

Murphy's fourth-inning knock plated Stephen Vogt with what would turn out to be the second and final run of the night for Oakland. The struggling backstop, who'd snapped a brief four-game, 0-for-14 skid Tuesday, is still carrying just a .202/.276/.367 slash line with a 26.7 percent strikeout rate on the season.

D'Arnaud (forearm) is starting Thursday against the Pirates.

D'Arnaud missed the last two games due to forearm soreness, but he'll start behind the plate and bat fifth Thursday. Over his last five games, the 33-year-old hit .286 with two homers, six RBI, three runs, a walk and two strikeouts.

Stephenson left Thursday's contest early with a hand injury, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

He was forced out of the game after a foul ball went off his bare right hand while catching, and Aramis Garcia replaced him behind the plate. More information will likely be provided on Stephenson's status following the conclusion of Thursday's matchup.

Casali isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against Colorado, Amy Gutierrez of the Giants' official site reports.

The 33-year-old started in the last three games and went 2-for-8 with a double, two runs, a walk and three strikeouts. While Casali is in line to serve as the primary catcher after Joey Bart was sent down Wednesday, Austin Wynns will start behind the dish and bat eighth Thursday.

Sanchez and the Twins agreed to a one-year, $9 million contract Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Sanchez made $6.35 million with the Yankees last year, and he'll get a fairly hefty pay raise during his first year with the Twins. The 29-year-old has received regular playing time over his first two months in Minnesota, and he's slashed .224/.282/.435 with seven home runs, 27 RBI, 16 runs and a stolen base over 44 games.

Diaz is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's contest against the Giants.

Diaz will sit after starting two games in a row, going 1-for-7 with a run scored in the first two contests of the series in San Francisco. Brian Serven will take over behind the plate and bat ninth Thursday.

Contreras and the Cubs agreed to a one-year, $9.625 million contract for the 2022 season Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

The two parties were slated to have an arbitration hearing Thursday, but Contreras landed a new deal shortly before the deadline. The 30-year-old has been productive early in the season, slashing .277/.403/.530 with 10 homers, 35 runs, 23 RBI and two stolen bases over 47 games. He's slated to become a free agent during the offseason but is a candidate to be traded by the rebuilding Cubs this summer if he doesn't reach a long-term agreement with the team.