MLB Player News

Murphy (rib) is starting at catcher Friday for Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday and is expected to be activated from the 10-day IL by Atlanta before the end of this weekend's series versus Miami, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The 30-year-old began his rehab assignment with Gwinnett on Tuesday and will catch for Spencer Strider (elbow) in his own rehab start Friday. Murphy suffered the rib fracture in early March, but it appears he'll only end up missing the first week-plus of the regular season. Prospect Drake Baldwin has been filling in as Atlanta's primary backstop but could soon be headed back to Triple-A.

Heim is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.

Kyle Higashioka will make another start behind the plate, catching for Tyler Mahle. Through eight games, each catcher has been in the starting lineup four times. Heim is slashing .308/.308/.769 with two home runs, two RBI and two runs scored through 13 plate appearances on the young season.

The Dodgers recalled Feduccia from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

He's taking the roster spot vacated by Freddie Freeman (ankle), who was placed on the 10-day injured list. Feduccia will operate as a third catcher for the Dodgers.

Escarra went 1-for-4 with a double in Thursday's 9-7 victory over Arizona.

With Austin Wells getting a game off, Escarra made his first start of the campaign. The 29-year-old enjoyed a personal milestone in the seventh inning when he hit a double to right field for his first hit as a major-leaguer. Escarra is a feel-good story -- he made the Yankees' Opening Day roster this year after being out of affiliated ball in 2022 and 2023 -- but his fantasy viability is limited due to his role as a backup to Wells, though Escarra does have the ability to play at both corner-infield and corner-outfield spots if needed.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Alvarez (hand) will catch a bullpen session and hit in the batting cage Friday, SNY.tv reports.

Alvarez is ramping up baseball activities as he works his way back from surgery on a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. There is no firm timeline yet for Alvarez's return, but he could still rejoin the Mets before the end of April.

Diaz is absent from the lineup for Friday's game versus the Cubs, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

It's a routine day off for Diaz, who is 3-for-13 at the dish in the early going this season. Martin Maldonado will catch and bat ninth for the Padres in Friday's series opener.

Wong is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.

Wong isn't dealing with any known injury, but this is the second straight game he's sat out and Friday is Boston's home opener, so it's a bit curious that he's not in the lineup. Carlos Narvaez will do the catching and bat eighth Friday.

Rogers is absent from the lineup for Friday's game versus the White Sox.

It's a routine day off for Rogers, who had started the last two contests. Dillon Dingler will do the catching and bat seventh for the Tigers.

Realmuto went 3-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases in Thursday's 3-1 win over Colorado.

It was an encouraging effort from Realmuto, who'd gone just 2-for-17 (.118) in four games prior to Thursday's contest. With his two steals, the 34-year-old catcher has already matched his regular-season total from 2024, where he slashed .266/.322/.429 with 14 homers, 47 RBI and 50 runs scored across 413 plate appearances.

Atlanta acquired Delay from the Pirates on Thursday in exchange for cash and optioned him to Double-A Columbus.

Delay was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Tuesday, but a move to Atlanta will allow him to reclaim a spot on a 40-man roster. However, he'll be demoted to Double-A upon joining his new organization and doesn't figure to serve as anything more than minor-league depth for the duration of the season. Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move.