MLB Player News

Ruiz is starting at catcher and batting ninth against the Angels on Sunday.

It didn't take long for Ruiz to get his first start after earning his first big-league callup Saturday when Will Smith (neck) was placed on the injured list. It's tough to know what to expect from Ruiz, whose prospect star has faded a bit due to less-than-stellar seasons at the Double-A level in 2018 and 2019. Austin Barnes is likely to serve as the Dodgers' primary catcher while Smith remains out, though Ruiz could get a fair amount of playing time considering the team's typical commitment to giving catchers adequate rest.

Stassi will start at catcher and will bat eighth Sunday against the Dodgers.

Stassi, who is batting .243 with four home runs and 10 RBI on the season, will get a third straight start while top backstop Jason Castro deals with a neck injury. The Angels are viewing Castro as day-to-day for now, but if he fails to demonstrate any notable progress heading into Monday's series opener with the Giants, the veteran could be at risk of landing on the injured list.

Barnes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Barnes had started the past three games in place of Will Smith (neck), who has since been placed on the 10-day injured list. Though Keibert Ruiz will step in to replace him behind the dish in the series finale, Barnes should still see the lion's share of the starts at catcher while Smith is sidelined. Barnes is slashing an underwhelming .250/.286/.350 on the season, but he's been running hot at the plate lately, going 8-for-18 with a home run and a double over his past five games.

Murphy (foot) continues to make incremental progress while rehabbing at the team's alternate training site in Tacoma, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Manager Scott Servais acknowledges the progress for Murphy is "maybe not as fast as he'd [Murphy] like" but confirms the veteran backstop is feeling better. Murphy remains without a timetable for return, however, and he'll likely need to corroborate he's capable of catching multiple innings in intrasquad games at the alternate training site before being activated.

The Royals scratched Perez from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins after he experienced blurry vision in his left eye, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

Kansas City hasn't suggested that Perez's blurry vision is the symptom of a suspected concussion, so the team will likely re-evaluate him again prior to Monday's series finale before determining if he's fit to play. Meibrys Viloria was recalled from the Royals' taxi squad in a corresponding move, and he'll start in place of Perez behind the dish Sunday.

Tromp is not in Sunday's lineup against the Athletics.

He is hitting .200 with two home runs, 10 strikeouts and one walk in 30 at-bats this month. Tyler Heineman will start behind the dish and hit seventh.

Narvaez is not in Sunday's lineup against the Cubs.

The lefty-hitting backstop will head to the bench with southpaw Jon Lester on the hill for Chicago. Manny Pina will start behind the dish and hit seventh.

Nola is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

Nola will retreat to the bench after starting five consecutive games at catcher, during which he went 4-for-20 with a solo home run and a double. Joseph Odom will spell Nola behind the dish.

Garver is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Garver's OPS remains under .500 for the season, but he's at least shown some signs of progress lately, producing four of his seven hits on the campaign in his last three starts. Until he breaks out of the slump for good, however, Garver may have to cede two or three starts per week to Alex Avila, who checks in behind the plate Sunday.

Caratini is not in Sunday's lineup against the Brewers.

He is hitting .304/.333/.348 in 23 at-bats this month. Kyle Schwarber will start at designated hitter while Steven Souza gets the start in left field.