MLB Player News
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Elias Diaz C | KC
Padres' Elias Diaz: Heading to bench for series finale
Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Though he'll be on the bench for the series finale while Martin Maldonado gets a turn behind the plate, Diaz seems to have re-established himself as the Padres' top backstop. Diaz started at catcher in each of the past three games, going 4-for-10 with a solo home run.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Braves' Sean Murphy: Exiting starting nine
Murphy is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Reds.
For a sixth series in a row, Murphy will have started the first two games before giving way to Drake Baldwin in the third contest. Baldwin will step in behind the plate and bat eighth Wednesday.
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Freddy Fermin C | SD
Royals' Freddy Fermin: Taking seat Wednesday
Fermin is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
With Salvador Perez having been limited exclusively to designated hitter and first base so far this month while he's been managing a hip issue, Fermin has temporarily settled in as the Royals' No. 1 backstop. After playing behind the dish in five of the last six games, Fermin will get a breather Wednesday, paving the way for Luke Maile to handle the catching duties while Perez plays first base.
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Danny Jansen C | TEX
Rays' Danny Jansen: Could be stuck in platoon
Jansen will start at catcher and bat cleanup in Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Though he's occupying a prominent spot in the order against Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sanchez, Jansen looks like he may have temporarily fallen into the short side of a platoon at catcher. The lefty-hitting Ben Rortvedt has started in each of the Rays' last four matchups versus righties, while each of Jansen's last four starts have come against lefties.
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Ben Rortvedt C | NYM
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: May be in strong side of platoon
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Though he'll hit the bench Wednesday against Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sanchez, but the left-handed-hitting Rortvedt may have taken control of a strong-side platoon role at catcher with Danny Jansen. Rortvedt has started in each of the Rays' last four matchups with right-handed pitchers.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Resting for day game
Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.
Austin Barnes will get the nod behind the plate while Smith rests for the day game after a night game. Smith caught all nine innings of Tuesday's 5-4 loss while going 2-for-5 with a double.
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Shea Langeliers C | ATH
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Sitting out matinee
Langeliers is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Mariners.
Langeliers started at catcher in each of the first two games of the series, so he's earned a rest for Wednesday's matinee. Jhonny Pereda will do the catching and bat ninth for the Athletics in this one.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Missing from lineup again
Moreno (side) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets,
Despite being scratched from the lineup ahead of Tuesday's game due to left side soreness, Moreno was considered available off the bench. He ultimately went unused in the 5-1 win, and the Diamondbacks will give Moreno another day off Wednesday to heal up from the injury. Jose Herrera will start at catcher for the second day in a row, though the expectation remains that Moreno will be back in the lineup for the four-game series versus the Dodgers that begins Thursday.
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William Contreras C | MIL
Brewers' William Contreras: Playing through fractured finger
Contreras is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros after X-rays on his left hand confirmed a fractured middle finger, but he plans to continue playing through the injury, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
The fracture is something that Contreras has evidently dealt with for a while, which could be contributing to the disappointing .242/.358/.331 batting line he's produced so far. Though he's not in the lineup Wednesday, Contreras could be available off the bench and should be back in the lineup for this weekend's series at Tampa Bay as either a catcher or designated hitter. The Brewers plan to construct a splint that will absorb some of the impact the finger takes, which should enable him to continue catching on a regular basis. Eric Haase will step in behind the plate Wednesday while Contreras sits for the series finale.