Martín Maldonado
YEARTEAMGABRHitsRBIDTHRBBSOSBCSEAVGOBPSLUG
2013Antiques3080812112037290010.1500.2270.287
2014Crushers61201213926711016670010.1940.2570.388
2015Crushers10000000000000.0000.0000.000
2017Rage281053124010090000.1140.1140.133
2018Wranglers11037226582816012141231030.1560.2130.296
2019Wowies119404316635210991080110.1630.2140.282
2020Wowies1013434569432701336920100.2010.2850.394
2021Wowies81255344227701446880100.1650.3020.357
2022Wowies892862837228011341000020.1290.2340.273
2023Wowies1023453555369021181080000.1590.2180.368
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 27 2024Maldonado will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Top backstop Korey Lee is getting a breather for the day game after he started at catcher in each of the previous three days, so Maldonado will get a turn behind the plate. Maldonado is valued for his defense, but with an .088/.140/.132 slash line and a minus-24 wRC+, he's been the league's least-productive hitter among all players with at least 100 plate appearances this season.
May 29 2024Maldonado will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Korey Lee remains the White Sox's No. 1 backstop, but he'll serve as the designated hitter Wednesday to open up a start behind the plate for Maldonado. The 37-year-old backstop has gone hitless in his last six starts and carries a lowly .083/.135/.131 slash line into Wednesday's contest.
Apr 27 2024Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and scored twice in Friday's 9-4 win over Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado hasn't exactly been the greatest offensive catcher in the big leagues this season, as his sixth-inning three-run homer gave him his first three RBI of 2024. The 37-year-old is still batting just .087 on the year, and fantasy managers should not expect him to have many more games similar to Friday's showing.
Apr 25 2024Maldonado is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado finds himself on the bench for a second straight day, ending a stretch of eight consecutive contests in which he and Korey Lee alternated turns behind the dish. With the White Sox sitting on a 3-21 record and the 37-year-old Maldonado having recorded just two hits in 42 at-bats on the season, it's possible that the organization will begin to start phasing him out to open up more opportunities for the 25-year-old Lee.
Apr 24 2024Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has fallen into a timeshare behind the dish with Korey Lee, with both backstops having now made four starts apiece over the past eight games. Even in AL-only leagues, Maldonado won't retain much fantasy value while he's hitting .048 on the season and not even playing on a regular basis.
Apr 22 2024Maldonado is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado and Korey Lee have now alternated turns behind the dish over the past six games, with both backstops drawing three starts apiece. With the White Sox sitting at 3-18 on the season and already shaping up as non-contenders, the 37-year-old Maldonado could become less of a priority as the campaign rolls along and the organization aims to get more of an evaluation of the 25-year-old Lee.
Apr 20 2024Maldonado isn't in the White Sox's lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is just 2-for-35 through 14 games, so he'll sit down as the White Sox look to get more production from behind the dish. Korey Lee will start at catcher and bat eighth.
Apr 17 2024Maldonado isn't in the White Sox's lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts during Game 1, lowering his batting average down to .061. He'll be replaced behind the dish by Korey Lee, who will bat eighth.
Apr 14 2024Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will get a breather in the series finale after he caught both of the previous two days while going hitless across six at-bats. Korey Lee gets the nod behind the dish Sunday.
Apr 10 2024Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will retreat to the bench for the series finale after catching in four of Chicago's last five games. Korey Lee will step in behind the plate in Maldonado's stead and will bat sixth.
Apr 8 2024Maldonado is not in the lineup for Monday's contest in Cleveland, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Korey Lee will do the catching for opener Tanner Banks. Maldonado had started each of the previous games and has now been behind the plate in seven of the White Sox' 10 contests thus far.
Apr 4 2024Maldonado isn't in the White Sox's lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado remains hitless through his first 11 at-bats of the season, so he will get a day off Thursday as Korey Lee starts behind the plate and bats ninth.
Apr 3 2024Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran backstop will get a breather for the day game after he caught all nine innings of Tuesday's 3-2 win. Korey Lee will step in behind the dish as a replacement for Maldonado, who has gone hitless with one walk through his first 12 plate appearances of 2024.
Apr 1 2024Maldonado will start at catcher and bat eighth in Monday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After resting in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Tigers, Maldonado will be back behind the dish for the series opener versus Atlanta while backup catcher Korey Lee retreats to the bench. While starting the first two games of the season, Maldonado went 0-for-5 with a walk and two strikeouts in losses to the Tigers. Despite coming off a season in which he posted a lowly .606 OPS over 407 plate appearances for Houston, Maldonado should see the majority of the starts at catcher for the White Sox in 2024 thanks mainly to his reputation as a defender and game caller.
Dec 26 2023Maldonado signed a one-year contract with the White Sox on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the White Sox searching for a solution behind the plate, they will bring in Maldonado to reunite with Korey Lee in Chicago's catcher room. The 37-year-old Maldonado will likely still have the upper hand over Lee in the battle for playing time, but after slashing .183/.260/.333 across the past three seasons, Maldonado's days as a viable fantasy option are seemingly over.
Sep 27 2023Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is hitting .224 (11-for-49) with four homers and eight RBI over 16 games in September. That's an improvement on his .193 batting average for the year, and he's up to 15 homers this season. The catcher has added a mediocre .616 OPS, 36 RBI, 33 runs scored and 12 doubles through 114 contests in 2023.
Sep 24 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the second straight game on the bench for Maldonado, though he's still started behind the plate in four of Houston's past seven contests. Yainer Diaz will step in to catch for Hunter Brown on Sunday.
Sep 23 2023Maldonado will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is hitting .189/.258/.343 on the season and has graded out five runs worse than any other catcher at framing pitches (per Statcast). Even with rookie backstop Yainer Diaz breaking out to the tune of a .286/.310/.551 slash line, Maldonado remains Houston's primary catcher, though his off day Saturday means he only has a 5-4 advantage in starts over the last nine games.
Sep 19 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the previous two games and will head to the bench for Tuesday's contest. The veteran backstop has a .924 OPS over his last nine games but still has a .191/.2612/.347 slash line for the campaign. Yainer Diaz will take over behind the plate and bat seventh.
Sep 13 2023Maldonado is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Astros manager Dusty Baker is going with the stronger bat in Yainer Diaz. Maldonado had started six of the last seven contests for the Astros.
Sep 10 2023Maldonado is not in the lineup Sunday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yainer Diaz will start at catcher as Michael Brantley serves as Houston's designated hitter. Maldonado contributed an RBI single to Saturday's 7-5 defeat of San Diego but is slashing just .187/.254/.337 across 366 total plate appearances this year.
Sep 5 2023Maldonado went 2-for-5 with two two-run home runs in Tuesday's 14-1 victory over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado played a key role in the Astros offensive barrage Tuesday, accounting for two of the team's six home runs on the day. The catcher plated Mauricio Dubon on both long balls, with each coming off opposing pitcher Dane Dunning. Over his last six appearances, Maldonado is batting 7-for-23 (.304) with three homers, six total RBI and four total runs scored.
Aug 29 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started behind the last two games and will head to the bench Tuesday after going 3-for-10 with a solo home run and four strikeouts. Yainer Diaz will catch for rookie righty J.P. France.
Aug 28 2023Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during Sunday's 17-4 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado swatted his 11th home run of the season in the seventh to put the Astros out front 7-0. He now has two home runs over his last three games and has an RBI in four of his last five. The 36-year-old is having another abysmal year at the plate, striking out at a career-high 34.2 percent rate and slashing just .183/.252/.329 with 27 RBI, 26 runs and a 24:114 BB:K in 333 plate appearances.
Aug 26 2023Maldonado will not start Saturday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado finds himself on the bench for the second time in three games. Yainer Diaz will take over behind the plate.
Aug 23 2023Maldonado went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 7-5 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is hitting .234 (11-for-47) in August, with four extra-base hits and eight RBI across 15 contests. That's a better average than his .180 mark for the year, and he's at a poor .568 OPS even with the improved power output of late. The veteran catcher has added 26 RBI, 25 runs scored, 10 homers and 10 doubles through 93 contests as the Astros' top backstop.
Aug 20 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yainer Diaz will get the nod behind the plate while Maldonado rests after catching each of the last three contests. Despite going hitless during that three-game stretch to bring his batting average down to .172 for the season, Maldonado still appears to be the Astros' preferred backstop due mostly to his skills as a pitch framer and game caller.
Aug 15 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has a .715 OPS through 28 at-bats in August and will take a seat Tuesday after starting the previous two contests. Yainer Diaz will step in behind the plate to catch for Cristian Javier.
Aug 12 2023Maldonado will hit the bench for the second time in three games Saturday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yordan Alvarez's return from an oblique injury in late July bumped Yainer Diaz from the designated hitter spot and into more of a competition with Maldonado behind the plate. Prior to Alvarez's return, Maldonado started 75 of 102 games behind the plate (74 percent). With Alvarez back in the fold, Maldonado has gotten the nod 10 times in 16 games, or 62.5 percent of the time. That's still enough to make him the clear primary backstop, but his .181/.249/.317 slash line leaves him with minimal fantasy value even in that role.
Aug 2 2023Maldonado is not in the lineup Wednesday versus the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yainer Diaz will start behind the plate and bat eighth after Maldonado caught Framber Valdez's no-hitter Tuesday night against Cleveland. Maldonado is the better defensive option of the two Houston backstops, but Diaz carries far more offensive upside.
Jul 31 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yainer Diaz will get the nod behind the plate in the series opener while Maldonado rests. The 36-year-old started at catcher in five of the Astros' six games last week, going 4-for-15 with a solo home run and a double.
Jul 29 2023Maldonado isn't starting Saturday against the Rays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is 4-for-11 with a home run across his last four games, and he'll catch a breather Saturday. Yainer Diaz will take over behind the plate and bat eighth.
Jul 23 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yainer Diaz will step in behind the plate while Maldonado rests in the series finale. The veteran backstop started at catcher in both of the past two games and went 0-for-7 with four strikeouts, bringing his season-long batting average down to a career-worst .163.
Jul 20 2023Maldonado is not in the lineup Thursday at Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yainer Diaz will start at catcher and Corey Julks will serve as the Astros' designated hitter as they open a four-game set versus the Athletics. Maldonado continues to offer solid defense behind the plate at age 36, but he's slashing just .168/.244/.295 on the year.
Jul 18 2023Maldonado will sit Tuesday versus the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will get a breather after he went 2-for-12 with a double, two RBI and a run scored while starting all three of the Astros' games during their series with Angels. Yainer Diaz will take over behind the plate and bat sixth in the series opener with Colorado.
Jul 8 2023Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado provided a clutch hit, giving Houston the lead with his eighth-inning solo shot. Prior to Saturday, he had gone 0-for-18 with one walk over his last six games. The catcher is batting a career-low .169 with a .540 OPS, six homers, 14 RBI and 16 runs scored through 66 contests. He hasn't lost much playing time despite his poor numbers, as the Astros appear content to let Yainer Diaz get the bulk of his at-bats at designated hitter while Yordan Alvarez (oblique) is out.
Jul 5 2023Maldonado is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Rockies, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will take a seat after he went 0-for-13 with a run scored, a walk and five strikeouts in the four-game series with Texas. Yainer Diaz will take over behind the plate and bat fifth against Colorado.
Jun 29 2023Maldonado is not in the lineup Thursday at St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yainer Diaz will catch and bat fifth versus the Cardinals and right-hander Adam Wainwright. Bligh Madris is serving as the Astros' designated hitter and batting seventh.
Jun 28 2023Maldonado went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 36-year-old backstop took Jordan Montgomery deep in the third inning, briefly giving the Astros a 2-1 lead. Maldonado's offensive output continues to dwindle -- he's hitting below .190 for the third straight season but has only five homers and 11 RBI in 58 games, and his .295 SLG would be his worst mark since 2015.
Jun 24 2023Maldonado isn't in the Astros' lineup Saturday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is 3-for-13 with an RBI and a run scored across his last five games, and he will get a breather Saturday. While he rests, Yainer Diaz will take over at catcher and bat fifth.
Jun 17 2023Maldonado will sit Saturday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado's .547 OPS on the season is low even by his standards; he hasn't finished with a lower mark since all the way back in 2013. That hasn't affected his workload, however, as his 51 starts behind the plate rank sixth in the league. Yainer Diaz will catch for Brandon Bielak on Saturday.
Jun 14 2023Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado's only hit of the night was a big one, after he took Chad Kuhl deep to left to begin the bottom of the seventh. It was his first hit in six games since June 3 and his first home run since May 22. Maldonado's struggles have continued at the plate again this year. He's slashing just .188/.271/.295 with four homers, nine RBI, 12 runs and a 14:53 BB:K over 170 plate appearances.
Jun 11 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is receiving some routine maintenance after he started behind the plate each of the past three days. Cesar Salazar will get a rare turn at catcher in place of Maldonado, who has gone hitless in his last five starts and is now slashing a deplorable .186/.272/.276 for the season.
Jun 7 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will give way behind the plate to Yainer Diaz for the second time in the series. Though the Astros laud Maldonado for his work as a game caller and pitch framer, his .577 OPS and career-worst 31.8 percent strikeout rate have made it difficult for fantasy players to wring much value from him.
Jun 5 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado looks to be receiving a routine off day after he was behind the dish in each of the Astros' last three games. Yainer Diaz will pick up a start at catcher and bat eighth in place of Maldonado.
Jun 1 2023Maldonado is not in the lineup Thursday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yainer Diaz will catch for Ronel Blanco and bat ninth as the Astros open a four-game series versus the Halos. Maldonado is slashing just .203/.290/.309 in 140 plate appearances this year, though Diaz hasn't been much better.
May 28 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting behind the plate in each of Houston's last three games, Maldonado will get a respite in the series finale. Yainer Diaz will form a battery with starting pitcher Cristian Javier on Sunday.
May 23 2023Maldonado isn't starting Tuesday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado went 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored against his former club Monday, earning himself a day off. Yainer Diaz will take over behind the plate Tuesday and bat seventh.
May 17 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will take a seat after he went hitless over seven at-bats in the first two games of the series. He'll give way to Yainer Diaz, who is catching starting pitcher J.P. France in the series finale.
May 13 2023Maldonado will sit Saturday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has provided his typical unimpressive performance at the plate this season, slashing .186/.278/.291, but he's nonetheless started 28 of Houston's first 39 games. Cesar Salazar will be the backstop Saturday.
May 9 2023Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's victory over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado hit one of the least probable home runs of the season, as he smoked a two-strike slider from Shohei Ohtani 407 feet. Maldonado has six hits in his last six games after posting just eight knocks in his first 20 games. He is not a recommended fantasy option and could lose playing time to rookie Yanier Diaz throughout the season.
May 8 2023Maldonado is out of the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado went 1-for-6 in two appearances in the three-game set against Seattle, and he'll retreat to the bench to open the series against the Angels on Monday. Yainer Diaz is starting behind the plate and hitting eighth.
Apr 5 2023Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is presumably just getting some routine maintenance after he started behind the plate each of the past three days. Cesar Salazar will pick up his first MLB start in Wednesday's series finale, batting ninth while catching for starting pitcher Cristian Javier.
Apr 1 2023Maldonado is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the first two games of the year behind the plate, going 1-for-6 with a walk. Yainer Diaz will catch for Jose Urquidy on Saturday.
Feb 16 2023Maldonado (hernia) confirmed Thursday that he is fully healthy leading into the spring, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado required hernia surgery in mid-November, but that was three whole months ago at this point. He used the period of rehab and recovery to drop 17 pounds and is preparing to be something close to an everyday presence at catcher this year for the reigning World Series-champion Astros. The 36-year-old hit a career-high 15 home runs over 113 regular-season games in 2022.
Nov 15 2022Maldonado underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a sports hernia, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado played through the injury late in the year, though you wouldn't necessarily be able to tell based on his numbers. His 85 wRC+ in the second half wasn't a strong mark, though it was much better than his 61 wRC+ in the first half. Whether or not the defense-first catcher's spring preparation will be affected by his recovery remains to be seen.
Nov 2 2022Maldonado is out of the lineup Wednesday for Game 4 of the World Series matchup with the Phillies, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will take a seat after he was behind the plate for each of the Astros' last four postseason games. Christian Vazquez will catch for starting pitcher Cristian Javier in Game 4.
Oct 4 2022Maldonado went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 10-0 win over the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado contributed a solo shot in the second inning, accounting for the last of the six runs charged to Phillies starter Ranger Suarez. Over his last seven games, Maldonado has gone just 3-for-19 with nine strikeouts. The catcher has set career highs in homers (15) and RBI (45) in 112 contests this year, but he's slashing only .187/.249/.354 with 40 runs scored and 12 doubles.
Sep 30 2022Maldonado isn't in the lineup Friday against Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 0-for-7 in Houston's last series against the Diamondbacks, Maldonado will yield catching duties to Christian Vazquez, who will bat eighth. This is the third time Maldonado has sat after making two consecutive starts, so it seems the Astros have fallen into a pattern behind the plate they like going forward.
Sep 22 2022Maldonado isn't starting Thursday against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is getting a day off after he went 3-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Rays. Christian Vazquez will take over behind the plate and bat seventh.
Sep 21 2022Maldonado went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's victory over Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado ripped two singles prior to going deep for a solo shot off Dusten Knight in the top of the ninth inning. The homer was his 14th of the year and second in his last three games. Maldonado has gone 9-for-22 with two home runs, six RBI and seven runs over his last six games.
Sep 19 2022Maldonado isn't starting Monday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado was productive Sunday against Oakland, going 4-for-4 with a homer, four runs and four RBI. However, he'll be out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last six games while Christian Vazquez starts behind the dish and bats eighth.
Sep 18 2022Maldonado went 4-for-4 with a homer, four runs and four RBI during Sunday's 11-2 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado was out of the lineup for three of the four games leading up to Sunday's matchup, but he helped drive the Astros' offense to the blowout win in the series finale against Oakland. In spite of Sunday's encouraging performance, the 36-year-old has been relatively quiet since the start of September, hitting .233 with a home run, six RBI, five runs, a walk and seven strikeouts over 10 games.
Sep 17 2022Maldonado isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a strikeout Friday and will retreat to the bench for the third time in the last four games. Christian Vazquez will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
Sep 15 2022Maldonado isn't starting Thursday against Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has hit just .091 with a run, an RBI, a walk and six strikeouts over eight games since the start of September, and he'll take a seat for the third time in the last five matchups. Christian Vazquez is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.
Sep 14 2022Maldonado isn't starting Wednesday against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is on the bench for the second time in the last four games after he went 1-for-7 with a run and two strikeouts over the last two matchups. Christian Vazquez is starting behind the plate and batting seventh.
Sep 7 2022Maldonado isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado was back in action over the last two games and went 1-for-5 with an RBI, a walk and a strikeout. Christian Vazquez will take over behind the dish and bat eighth Wednesday.
Sep 6 2022Maldonado went 1-for-3 with an RBI on Monday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado was back in the lineup after being scratched Sunday due to an illness. He connected for an RBI single in the second inning, the lone run scored by either team in the game. Maldonado has only three hits across his last 10 starts and 26 at-bats and has a .177/.243/.341 line across 325 plate appearances on the campaign.
Sep 5 2022Maldonado (illness) will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As anticipated, Maldonado is ready to resume catching duties Monday after he was scratched in advance of Sunday's 9-1 win over the Angels due to a minor cold. In his return, Maldonado will form a battery with right-hander Hunter Brown, who is making his MLB debut.
Sep 4 2022Maldonado was scratched from Sunday's lineup against the Angels with an illness, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado was originally set to work behind the plate, but he'll instead receive a day off since he's under the weather. According to McTaggart, the veteran backstop is expected to rejoin the lineup Monday versus the Rangers. Christian Vazquez will work behind the plate Sunday.
Sep 3 2022Maldonado isn't starting Saturday against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Friday but will be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games. Christian Vazquez is starting behind the plate and batting fifth.
Sep 2 2022Maldonado (hand) went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Friday's 4-2 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado missed two games due to swelling in his right hand after he was hit by a pitch Sunday versus the Orioles. The catcher wasn't able to do much in his return, and he's gone just 5-for-40 (.125) over his last 14 games. Despite the lack of hitting, Maldonado figures to reclaim the No. 1 catcher role over Christian Vazquez as long as the former's hand issue doesn't resurface.
Aug 31 2022Maldonado (hand) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll take a seat for the second game in a row while he continues to manage a swollen right hand, which stems from being hit by a pitch in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Orioles. Christian Vazquez will get another turn behind the dish while Maldonado is day-to-day with the injury.
Aug 30 2022Maldonado won't start Tuesday or Wednesday against the Rangers due to swelling in his right hand, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 36-year-old was hit by a pitch Sunday against the Orioles and will sit out a couple days to allow the swelling in his hand to subside. Christian Vazquez is starting behind the plate Tuesday and should receive another start Wednesday before Houston has a scheduled day off Thursday.
Aug 27 2022Maldonado isn't starting Saturday against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games after he went 0-for-2 during Friday's loss to Baltimore. Christian Vazquez will start behind the plate and bat sixth.
Aug 25 2022Maldonado isn't starting Thursday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the last three games and went 1-for-11 with a double, a run and six strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Christian Vazquez starts behind the plate and bats fifth.
Aug 23 2022Maldonado's $4.5 million team option for 2023 vested Sunday after he appeared in his 90th game of the season, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The $4.5 million price tag is somewhat steep if Maldonado were to move into a backup role in 2023, but the Astros have thus far shown no inclination to reducing the 36-year-old's playing time, even after acquiring fellow catcher Christian Vazquez from Boston earlier this month. With Vazquez headed to free agency this offseason and likely to command a bigger contract than the Astros may be willing to pay, Maldonado could be poised to enter next season atop the depth chart. Though Maldonado owns a lowly .181 batting average and .245 on-base percentage for the season, he's popped 12 home runs and receives high praise for his game calling, pitch framing and ability to control the running game.
Aug 20 2022Maldonado is not in Saturday's lineup against Atlanta, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is hitting .257 with two home runs in 12 games this month. Christian Vazquez will start behind the dish and hit sixth.
Aug 18 2022Maldonado is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Even after Houston dealt for an established everyday catcher in Christian Vazquez ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline, Maldonado has remained the Astros' No. 1 backstop. Though Vazquez is behind the dish Thursday, Maldonado has dominated the playing time, catching in four of the previous five contests. Aside from popping the occasional home run, Maldonado's fantasy utility is limited, but his defensive acumen and chemistry with the pitching staff should continue to earn him ample opportunities for Houston.
Aug 14 2022Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has .917 OPS with two home runs and seven RBI through eight games in August as he's maintained the starting role behind the plate despite the acquisition of Christian Vazquez at the trade deadline. However, Vazquez will enter the lineup Sunday and form a battery with Cristian Javier.
Aug 12 2022Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Thursday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado slugged a three-run homer in the second inning to open the scoring for Houston. He now has 12 homers on the season, four of which have come in his last 18 games. Despite Houston's acquisition of Christain Vazquez, Maldonado has started seven out of the 10 games since the trade deadline. Despite his relatively strong stretch recently, Maldonado is still hitting only .187/.252/.370 across 285 plate appearances on the season.
Aug 6 2022Maldonado went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored Friday against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite Houston's acquisition of Christian Vazquez, Maldonado has been in the lineup for three of the last four games. He's been productive in that span, driving in four, scoring three runs and recording a home run and double. Even so, Maldonado is hitting only .184/.245/.360 across 276 plate appearances for the season, and he's likely to lose playing time in the near future.
Aug 4 2022Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado's playing time is on the decline with Christian Vazquez joining the Astros at the trade deadline. That didn't matter Thursday, as Maldonado hit a two-run double and a solo home run for his third multi-hit effort in his last nine games. The veteran catcher is slashing .178/.242/.356 with 11 homers, 33 RBI, 27 runs scored and 11 doubles through 80 contests. Still, fantasy managers shouldn't expect Maldonado to receive much more than two starts a week with a more productive catcher in Vazquez around to handle the starting role.
Aug 3 2022Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Christian Vazquez, whom the Astros acquired from Boston on Monday, will step in behind the plate for his Houston debut Wednesday while opposing his former team. Though he's not expected to play quite as frequently for the Astros as he did with the Red Sox, Vazquez should still operate as his new team's clear No. 1 option behind the plate, resulting in Maldonado's role taking a significant hit. The defensive-minded Maldonado had already been a fringy option in leagues that start two catchers, as he's maintaining a .173 average to go with 10 home runs, 30 RBI and 26 runs over 79 games this season.
Aug 2 2022Maldonado went 1-for-3 on Monday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has been a consistent presence in Houston's lineup this season, largely due to his defensive abilities behind the plate. However, with Christian Vazquez now in the mix, Maldonado will likely have to settle for a backup role. Across 265 plate appearances on the season, Maldonado has maintained a .175/.240/.342 line.
Jul 31 2022Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will get a breather after he went 2-for-10 with a double and a run scored while starting in each of Houston's last three games. Korey Lee will fill in for Maldonado behind the plate.
Jul 27 2022Maldonado is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will get a breather after he went 1-for-3 with a double in Tuesday's loss. Korey Lee will get the start at catcher and bat ninth against Oakland.
Jul 22 2022Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-2 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado's fifth-inning solo shot stood as the game-winning run. The catcher has tapped into his power in July, hitting five of his 10 homers this season in his last 16 games. For the season, he has a .166/..235/.341 slash line with 27 RBI, 25 runs scored and eight doubles through 70 contests. This is the fourth year in Maldonado's career he's reached double digits in homers.
Jul 21 2022Maldonado isn't starting the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the final two games ahead of the All-Star break and went 1-for-6 with a grand slam. Korey Lee is starting behind the plate and batting ninth during Thursday's matinee.
Jul 17 2022Maldonado went 1-for-3 with the third grand slam of his career Saturday in the Astros' 5-0 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran catcher's second-inning long ball with the bases loaded proved to be the decisive play Saturday, as right-hander Justin Verlander (six shutout innings) and the Houston bullpen kept the Oakland bats quiet throughout the night. Maldonaodo is now up to nine home runs of the season, putting him within striking distance of the career-high 14 he slugged in 2017 with the Angels.
Jul 15 2022Maldonado will hit the bench Friday against Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is hitting just .167/.237/.324 on the year, but his 64 starts behind the plate rank third at the position. He'll sit here after starting eight of the last nine games, with Korey Lee set to catch for Jose Urquidy.
Jul 10 2022Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the past five games and will receive a breather in the series finale Sunday afternoon. Korey Lee will take over behind the plate for Houston.
Jul 9 2022Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in an 8-3 win over the Athletics on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado's three-run home run gives him eight long balls on the year to go along with 21 RBI. The 35-year-old catcher has put together a couple of good games in a row. In his previous game played against the Royals, he went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk. The veteran has never hit more than 14 homers in a previous season and is a career .208 hitter.
Jul 8 2022Maldonado went 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored and one walk in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado walked in his first plate appearance, double in his second and singled in each of his last two at-bats en route to his first three-hit game of the season. Across 61 appearances, the veteran catcher is slashing .160/.237/.310 with seven homers and 18 RBI.
Jul 4 2022Maldonado isn't starting Monday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado drew starts in the last four games and went 3-for-12 with a pair of solo home runs, a walk and four strikeouts during that time. Korey Lee is starting behind the plate and batting ninth Monday.
Jul 2 2022Maldonado went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs in a 9-1 win over the Angels on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Houston knocked five homers in the victory, with Maldonado accounting for two of them. He took Patrick Sandoval deep to left in the second inning and tagged Andrew Wantz for a 429-foot shot to center in the sixth. This was the backstop's first multi-homer game of the campaign. He's struggled with the bat overall this season, slashing .153/.219/.307 with seven homers and 18 RBI over 194 plate appearances.
Jun 29 2022Maldonado isn't starting Wednesday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is getting a breather after he went 1-for-11 with seven strikeouts over the last three games. Jason Castro is taking over behind the dish and batting eighth.
Jun 24 2022Maldonado will be on the bench Friday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has typically handled a heavy workload behind the plate, but he now finds himself on the for the third time in the last five games. Despite his defensive prowess, it's tough to be an everyday player when you hit .147/.221/.282. Jason Castro will again start at catcher Friday.
Jun 22 2022Maldonado isn't starting Wednesday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in Tuesday's win over the Mets. However, he'll be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games while Jason Castro starts behind the dish and bats eighth.
Jun 19 2022Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the past three games and will receive a day off after going 2-for-9 with a home run, a double and three RBI. Jason Castro will work behind the plate in Sunday's series finale.
Jun 15 2022Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and one run scored Wednesday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado capped off a six-run first inning for the Astros with a two-RBI double. He then led off the fourth frame by going yard to tally his fifth home run of the season. Maldonado has now recorded multiple hits in three of his last four starts, but he is still hitting just .160/.228/.306 across 160 plate appearances on the season.
Jun 14 2022Maldonado will sit Tuesday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado finds himself on the bench for the second time in three games. While he's handled a heavy workload behind the plate for most of this season, the Astros' tolerance of his poor bat in exchange for his strong defense may be waning. He's hitting .150/.221/.271 on the year. Jason Castro will take over behind the plate.
Jun 12 2022Maldonado is not in Sunday's lineup against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is hitting .259 with one home run and eight strikeouts in eight games this month. Jason Castro is starting behind the dish and hitting eighth.
Jun 11 2022Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a double Friday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado snapped a 15 at-bat hitless stretch with a single in the fifth inning, and he followed that up with a double to lead off the eighth frame. He's collected at least one hit in five of his last 10 starts, but is still hitting only .206 with three RBI and four runs scored in that span. Overall, Maldonado has just a .215 wOBA and 39 wRC+ across 149 plate appearances on the season.
Jun 7 2022Maldonado is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will get a day off after starting five straight games, going 3-for-18 with a homer, two RBI and three runs in those contests. Jason Castro will start at catcher and bat eighth Tuesday.
Jun 3 2022Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 10-3 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is beginning to break out of his season-opening slump -- he's 5-for-14 while hitting safely in each of his last four games. He has a homer and a double in that span. The veteran catcher still has a lackluster .145/.217/.274 slash line with four long balls, 13 RBI, 16 runs scored and three doubles in 38 contests overall.
May 31 2022Maldonado is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the past two games and will receive Tuesday off. Jason Castro will take over behind the plate for the Astros.
May 29 2022Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a double Sunday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado hit a one-out double in the seventh inning, but he was pinch run for and was denied the opportunity to score. It was only his third double and sixth extra-base hit of the season. Maldonado has maintained an unimpressive .123/.203/.236 line across 120 plate appearances for the campaign.
May 28 2022Maldonado will sit Saturday against Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has continued to feature heavily behind the plate despite the fact that he's hitting just .117/.200/.223 on the year. He'll hit the bench for the second time in three games Saturday, something which hadn't happened since late April, with Jason Castro starting behind the plate.
May 25 2022Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Houston's top backstop will get a breather after he started behind the plate each of the past three days. Jason Castro will form a battery with starting pitcher Cristian Javier in the series finale.
May 21 2022Maldonado will sit Saturday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has handled a heavy workload behind the plate as usual this season despite the fact that he hasn't done much with his bat. He's hit .121/.206/.242, but his 29 games started as a catcher rank third in the league. Jason Castro will start in Maldonado's place Saturday.
May 19 2022Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI on Thursday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado smacked a three-RBI double in the eighth inning to put the Astros up 5-1. Though he has a disastrous .122/.308/.244 line for the season, Maldonado has at least one hit in five of his last seven starts. He's delivered five RBI and four runs scored in that span.
May 16 2022Maldonado will sit Monday against the Red Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado hits the bench after starting eight of Houston's last 10 games. He's hitting just .113/.200/.238 on the season. Jason Castro will take over behind the plate.
May 15 2022Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored Sunday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado took Patrick Corbin yard in the fifth inning to record his third homer of the season. He's now hit a home run twice in his last six games, though he had managed only two hits across his last 19 at-bats prior to Sunday's performance. Overall, Maldonado has maintained a subpar .113/.200/.238 line across 91 plate appearances.
May 12 2022Maldonado isn't starting Thursday's regularly scheduled game against Minnesota, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado remained behind the dish to close out Wednesday's suspended game, and he finished the win by going 1-for-5 with a run and a strikeout. Jason Castro will take his place behind the dish and bat eighth.
May 8 2022Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will be getting some routine maintenance after he started at catcher each of the past three days. Jason Castro will relieve Maldonado behind the plate in the series finale.
May 6 2022Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Friday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado entered Friday's game hitless in his last 12 at-bats -- spanning five games -- while striking out at a 50 percent clip. However, he ended that dreadful stretch with a solo home run in the second inning to record his second long ball of the season. Maldonado is hitting just .088/.209/.211, though he remains Houston's primary catcher.
May 4 2022Maldonado isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has gone 0-for-9 with four strikeouts over the last three games, and he'll get a breather in Wednesday's series finale. Jason Castro will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
Apr 30 2022Maldonado isn't starting Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the last two games and went 1-for-7 with a run, a walk and four strikeouts. Jason Castro will take over behind the dish and bat eighth.
Apr 25 2022Maldonado isn't starting Monday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will get a day off after he went 1-for-8 with a double, two runs, two walks and seven strikeouts in his last three appearances. Jason Castro will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
Apr 20 2022Maldonado isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will get a breather after he went 0-for-6 with a run, an RBI, a walk and a strikeout in his last two appearances. Jason Castro will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
Apr 17 2022Maldonado is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against Seattle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the past three games and will receive the day off for the series finale. Jason Castro will take over behind the plate Sunday.
Apr 16 2022Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in a 4-0 victory over the Mariners on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going hitless in his first 15 at-bats of the season, Maldonado finally connected for a two-run shot off Seattle starter Chris Flexen to triple Houston's early lead. Despite near regular playing time for a backstop, Maldonado is in the lineup for his defense and is a career .211 batter.
Apr 12 2022Maldonado is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is 0-for-9 with three walks and two runs through his first three appearances of the season and will head to the bench Tuesday. Jason Castro will start behind the plate in his place.
Apr 9 2022Maldonado will sit Saturday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado went 0-for-7 in the first two games of the season. He tied for third in starts behind the plate last season with 118 but will get his first off day of 2022 in just the third game of the year, with Jason Castro set to catch Justin Verlander.
Oct 2 2021Maldonado isn't starting Saturday's game against Oakland, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will miss a second straight contest, although it's not clear whether his absence is related to his sore shoulder that forced him out of Wednesday's game against the Rays. Jason Castro will start at catcher and bat eighth.
Oct 1 2021Maldonado will sit Friday against Oakland, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado left Wednesday's game against the Rays with a sore shoulder but started Thursday's contest. It's unclear if his absence Friday is injury-related or if he's simply been rewarded with a day off alongside several teammates after the Astros clinched the division title Thursday.
Sep 30 2021Maldonado (shoulder) is starting Thursday's game against Tampa Bay, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado exited Wednesday's game due to left shoulder soreness, but he'll be back in action Thursday. He's gone hitless with five strikeouts in his last 13 at-bats but will start at catcher and bat ninth.
Sep 29 2021Maldonado was removed from Wednesday's game against the Rays with left shoulder soreness, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado may have picked up the injury during the fourth inning when he appeared to land on his left shoulder while making a diving catch on a bunt attempt. The 35-year-old struck out in his lone plate appearance before exiting the contest. Jason Castro is poised to see increased work should Maldonado be forced to miss any time.
Sep 26 2021Maldonado is on the bench for Sunday's game against the Athletics, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Three consecutive hitless performances have lowered Maldonado's average to .155 since the beginning of September. Jason Castro starts behind the dish in Sunday's series finale.
Sep 22 2021Maldonado is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the past four games and will receive a day off after going 5-for-13 with two homers, three walks, four RBI and three runs during that stretch. Jason Castro will catch Wednesday for right-hander Luis Garcia.
Sep 21 2021Maldonado went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Monday's win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has hit safely in each of his last three games, but perhaps more importantly, he snapped a homer drought that dated back to Aug. 25, when he blasted a solo shot against the Royals. The veteran backstop is hitting just .170 this month while striking out 15 times in 47 at-bats, so he hasn't been very productive over the last couple of weeks.
Sep 17 2021Maldonado is not starting Friday against Arizona, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll get a breather after walking and scoring twice during Thursday's win over Texas. Jason Castro (knee), who was activated from the injured list Friday, will catch Brandon Bielak and bat ninth.
Sep 13 2021Maldonado will sit Monday against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado continues to handle a very heavy workload behind the plate despite his .171/.272/.296 season slash line. He started 15 of the Astros' last 16 games heading into Monday but will rest here with Garrett Stubbs set to catch Jake Odorizzi.
Sep 5 2021Maldonado is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado, hitting .143 with a home run and three RBI in his last 10 games, gets an expected afternoon off after catching Saturday night. Garrett Stubbs starts behind the dish and bats eighth Sunday.
Aug 26 2021Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Wednesday in an extra-inning victory versus the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The backstop produced the first run of the game with a solo shot to left field in the third inning. The homer was his 10th of the season, marking the third time in his career he has reached double digits in that category during a campaign. Maldonado has otherwise struggled in 2021, however, batting a paltry .190 with 100 strikeouts across 291 at-bats.
Aug 24 2021Maldonado is not starting Tuesday against the Royals, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will rest his legs after going 0-for-2 with a pair of walks during the series opener. Jason Castro will bat eighth and catch Luis Garcia.
Aug 21 2021Maldonado went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and a run scored in Friday's 12-3 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado had one of his best games this season after reaching base four times and sending one over the wall for the first time since July 31. The 35-year-old backstop has not been able to get it going overall this year. He's slashing just .183/.284/.319 with nine homers, 29 RBI, 32 runs scored and 36:96 BB:K over 320 plate appearances. His inconsistency at the plate has led to him losing occasional starts to Jason Castro.
Aug 19 2021Maldonado isn't starting Thursday's game against the Royals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started each of the last two games and went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout. Jason Castro will take his place behind the dish and bat eighth.
Aug 16 2021Maldonado isn't starting Monday against the Royals, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado went 0-for-2 with a walk in Sunday's loss to the Angels, and he'll be on the bench for the second time in the last three games. Jason Castro will start at catcher and bat eighth.
Aug 14 2021Maldonado will sit Saturday against the Angels, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado sits after starting four straight games. Jason Castro starts behind the plate in his absence.
Aug 7 2021Maldonado will sit Saturday against the Twins, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado's 78 starts behind the plate rank sixth at the position this season. His bat hasn't exactly justified that sort of workload, however, as he's hit just .181/.276/.317 on the year. Jason Castro will get the nod in his absence.
Aug 4 2021Maldonado is not starting Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has enjoyed a solid stretch offensively, hitting .290 with a pair of home runs, three doubles and four RBI in his last 10 games. Jason Castro will start at catcher and bat eighth Wednesday.
Jul 28 2021Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is getting some routine maintenance with the Astros and Mariners wrapping up their series with a day game after a night game. Jason Castro checks in behind the dish, catching for starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi.
Jul 27 2021Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Monday's 11-8 loss to the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Houston values Maldonado primarily for his ability to control the run game and shepherd the pitching staff, but he provided a rare impact at the plate in the series opener. Though Maldonado's seventh home run of the season helped stake Houston to a 7-0 lead after three and a half innings, the Seattle bats suddenly erupted midway through the contest and allowed the Mariners to complete a come-from-behind victory.
Jul 23 2021Maldonado is out of the lineup Friday against the Rangers, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the past four games and will receive a day to rest Friday. Jason Castro will catch for Jake Odorizzi and bat eighth.
Jul 17 2021Maldonado is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 34-year-old went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks Friday and is now hitting .194 with four free passes in his last 10 games. Lefty-hitting Jason Castro will catch and bat eighth against Chicago's Lucas Giolito.
Jul 9 2021Maldonado is not starting Friday against the Yankees, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado went hitless across nine at-bats while starting all three games behind the plate during the series against Oakland. He'll get a rest Friday as Jason Castro bats eighth and catches Jake Odorizzi.
Jul 5 2021Maldonado (bereavement) will be active for Tuesday's series opener against Oakland, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The catcher hit .235 with a homer, four RBI and four runs in his last 10 games before going on the bereavement list Wednesday. Garrett Stubbs returns to Triple-A Sugar Land now that Maldonado is back with the Astros.
Jul 3 2021Maldonado (bereavement) might not return until Tuesday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has been on the bereavement list since Wednesday, and it appears as though he could miss the remainder of the team's road trip in Cleveland. Garrett Stubbs is starting at catcher while Jason Castro serves as the designated hitter Saturday.
Jun 30 2021Maldonado was placed on the bereavement list Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will be away from the team for at least three games, while Garrett Stubbs will take his place on the active roster. Jason Castro is starting at catcher in Wednesday's game against the Orioles, and he could serve as the primary catcher while Maldonado is sidelined.
Jun 27 2021Maldonado is not starting Sunday against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jason Castro will take over behind the dish as Maldonado rests his legs during the series finale.
Jun 26 2021Maldonado isn't starting Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado had started each of the last three games behind the dish and will get a breather for Saturday's matinee. Jason Castro will start at catcher and bat ninth.
Jun 25 2021Maldonado is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against Detroit, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll get a rest after catching the previous three games. Jason Castro will bat ninth and catch Framber Valdez during the second game of the four-game set.
Jun 21 2021Maldonado isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Orioles, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado drew three consecutive starts behind the plate and went 0-for-10 with a run, an RBI, a walk and five strikeouts. Jason Castro will start at catcher and bat ninth.
Jun 17 2021Maldonado is not starting Thursday's game against the White Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He receives a day off after going 2-for-4 with a homer in Wednesday's series finale against the Rangers. Lefty-hitting Jason Castro will start behind the dish against White Sox righty Dylan Cease.
Jun 13 2021Maldonado is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will get a breather after starting the previous three games behind the plate. Garrett Stubbs will catch and bat ninth Sunday.
Jun 12 2021Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 6-4 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After reliever Ryne Stanek coughed up a one-run lead in the eighth inning, Maldonado doubled home Myles Straw in the top of the ninth to reclaim the lead for Houston. He later scored an insurance run on a Michael Brantley single. Maldonado has 17 RBI this season with eight of them coming in the last six games.
Jun 9 2021Maldonado isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado was in the lineup for each of the last four games, and he went 4-for-16 with a home run, seven RBI, three runs and six strikeouts during that time. Garrett Stubbs will start at catcher and bat ninth.
Jun 4 2021Maldonado went 2-for-5 with a home run, five RBI and two total runs scored in Friday's 13-1 win over Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In the sixth inning, the catcher blew the game wide open with a grand slam to put Houston ahead 7-0. Maldonado added an RBI single in the eighth. Friday was his third multi-hit game in 43 contests this year, all of which have come since May 14. The 34-year-old is slashing .164/.245/.286 with four homers, 14 RBI and 14 runs scored across 155 plate appearances.
May 29 2021Maldonado isn't starting Saturday's game against the Padres, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado had started each of the last five games and went 3-for-15 with a run, an RBI, two walks and four strikeouts during that time. Garrett Stubbs will start at catcher and bat ninth.
May 21 2021Maldonado is out of the lineup Friday against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the past six games behind the plate and will receive a well-earned day off Friday. Jason Castro will catch for Houston as Tyler Ivey makes his major-league debut.
May 20 2021Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-4 win over Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado contributed an RBI double in the third inning before scoring on a Michael Brantley single. The catcher added a two-run homer in the fourth. He had gone 0-for-7 over the last two games, so this was a good time to stop the skid. Maldonado owns a .157/.229/.287 slash line with three homers, eight RBI and nine runs scored across 118 plate appearances as Houston's primary catcher.
May 14 2021Maldonado went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and a walk in Friday's 10-4 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado drew a bases-loaded walk in the third inning to push Houston's lead to 6-1. He then blew it up even further with a two-run blast in the fifth. It was his second homer of the season and both have come over the last seven games.
May 13 2021Maldonado is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado had started six of the Astros' last seven games, so manager Dusty Baker may just have wanted to give the veteran backstop some extra maintenance. Jason Castro will catch Cristian Javier in the series opener.
May 10 2021Maldonado isn't starting Monday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado had started each of the last four games and went 5-for-15 with a home run, a double, two runs and two RBI during that time. Jason Castro will start behind the plate and bat ninth.
May 6 2021Maldonado went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado entered the game with only two extra-base hits across 72 plate appearances this season. He did manage his first homer of the campaign Thursday when he took Justin Wilson yard in the ninth inning. Maldonado will several more strong performances to pull up his poor .129/.197/.214 line across 76 plate appearances to this point.
May 5 2021Maldonado (shoulder) isn't starting Wednesday against the Yankees, Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado was diagnosed with a trapezius contusion after leaving Tuesday's game against the Yankees. Maldonado will be available off the bench, but manager Dusty Baker said that he'll try not to use the 34-year-old, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Jason Castro will start at catcher and bat ninth.
May 4 2021Maldonado is negative for concussion symptoms and was diagnosed with a trapezius contusion after leaving Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's good news for the 34-year-old after he was hit in the head during a collision at home plate with Rougned Odor. Maldonado should be considered day-to-day but will be held out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.
May 1 2021Maldonado went 1-for-5 with a triple and a run scored in Friday's 9-2 win over Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado's fourth-inning triple snapped an 0-for-10 skid and was just his sixth hit in 59 at-bats (.102). The Astros' potent offense can afford to carry a light-hitting catcher, so Maldonado will maintain his role as the team's primary catcher.
Apr 29 2021Maldonado isn't starting Thursday's game against Seattle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has gone hitless with a walk and two strikeouts in nine at-bats across the last three games. Jason Castro will start behind the dish and bat ninth.
Apr 24 2021Maldonado isn't starting Saturday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will get a breather after he went 1-for-10 with a double, one run and six strikeouts in the last four games. Jason Castro will start behind the plate Saturday, batting ninth.
Apr 21 2021Maldonado and the Astros agreed Wednesday on a one-year, $5 million contract extension, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. According to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, the deal includes a $4 million team option or a $500,000 buyout for 2023, with option vesting to $5 million if Maldonado plays at least 90 games in 2022. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though he only recently began the second season of the two-year, $7 million deal he signed in the 2019-20 offseason, Maldonado has made a strong enough of an impression as a game caller and defender behind the plate during his time in Houston for the club to give him some extra security. The 34-year-old has been less dependable on the offensive end -- he's gone 3-for-34 with 17 strikeouts to begin 2021 -- but the Astros are able to live with his shortcomings in that area if he can continue to coax good results out of the team's pitching staff.
Apr 20 2021Maldonado (COVID-19 injured list) is starting Tuesday in Colorado, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As expected, Maldonado is back in the starting nine for the first of a two-game series in Coors Field.
Apr 19 2021Maldonado is tentatively expected to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener in Colorado, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Of the five Astros on the COVID-19 IL, only Jose Altuve appears unlikely to rejoin the team in Colorado while he waits to clear all MLB health and safety protocols. Once they arrive in Denver, the quartet of Maldonado, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez and Robel Garcia will still have a few more hurdles to clear related to COVID-19 intake testing, but all four should be eligible to play Tuesday if they continue to test negative for the virus. Once reinstated, Maldonado should take back primary catching duties from Jason Castro.
Apr 18 2021Astros manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that Maldonado (COVID-19 injured list) has been cleared to resume individual workouts, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado and the other four Astros placed on the COVID-19 IL on Wednesday all appear to have finished their respective quarantine periods, but Baker didn't specify when any of the players might be ready to rejoin the team. Since Baker previously mentioned that the five players in question are unlikely to be available for the team's ongoing road trip, Maldonado's earliest possible return date would most likely be Thursday, when the Astros host the Angels.
Apr 16 2021Maldonado (COVID-19 protocols) is unlikely to return during the Astros' current five-game road trip, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado was one of five Astros who landed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday. The team hasn't announced whether Maldonado has tested positive for the virus, but manager Dusty Baker said Friday that none of the five players are likely to return before the Astros return home Thursday. Jason Castro and Garrett Stubbs should continue to fill in behind the plate in Maldonado's absence.
Apr 14 2021Maldonado was placed on the injured list Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado was one of five Astros who were placed on the injured list without an injury designation, so it appears as though the players are out due to COVID-19-related protocols. It's not yet clear whether Maldonado has tested positive for the virus. If the 34-year-old isn't dealing with a positive test result, he'll be eligible to return as soon as he clears the league's health and safety protocols. Jason Castro should serve as the team's primary catcher in Maldonado's absence, while the Astros also recalled Garrett Stubbs in a corresponding move.
Apr 13 2021Maldonado agreed to a one-year contract extension with Houston on Tuesday that includes a vesting option for 2023, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is a defensive stalwart and brings excellent makeup to the clubhouse, which is good, because he doesn't bring much to the table as a hitter. The 34-year-old backstop has a career .217/.291/.352 slash line and 2020 is the lone year in his career that he hit better than league average (110 wRC+).
Apr 8 2021Maldonado is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Houston will build in an extended rest for its top catcher, as Maldonado will head to the bench following Wednesday's off day. Maldonado should check back in behind the plate for Friday's contest, but Jason Castro will catch Cristian Javier in the series opener.
Apr 4 2021Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jason Castro will pick up his first start of the season while Maldonado heads to the bench after catching each of the last three days. Though the Astros put up 26 runs in the first three games of the series, Maldonado didn't get in on the act, going just 1-for-13 with six strikeouts over that stretch.
Mar 10 2021Maldonado went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's spring game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is 3-for-9 with an RBI and two runs scored in five Grapefruit League games. He experienced an uptick in offense in 2020 -- his .728 OPS was his best since 2012 -- but he's on the team for his defense and ability to manage the pitching staff.
Oct 13 2020Maldonado is "banged up" according to manager Dusty Baker but could still appear off the bench Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado will sit in favor of Dustin Garneau on Tuesday for the first time this postseason, though his absence was apparently a coach's decision and not related to his minor injuries. Expect him back as soon as Game 4 on Wednesday if not before.
Sep 27 2020Maldonado is not in the lineup Sunday against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is on the bench for the second straight game as the Astros give him some extra rest heading into the playoffs. Dustin Garneau starts behind the plate Sunday, batting ninth.
Sep 26 2020Maldonado isn't starting Saturday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado drew two walks in four plate appearances Friday, but he'll take a seat for the second time in the last three games. Dustin Garneau will take over as the catcher Saturday.
Sep 24 2020Maldonado isn't in Thursday's lineup against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has been in a slump recently as he's gone 1-for-20 with four walks and eight strikeouts over the last seven games. Dustin Garneau will take over behind the dish Thursday.
Sep 22 2020Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado finished the Astros' five-run rally in the sixth inning with his blast off Mariners reliever Brandon Brennan. It was the sixth homer of the year for Maldonado, who has added 24 RBI, 19 runs scored and a stolen base in 158 plate appearances.
Sep 20 2020Maldonado is not in the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started the past 10 games and went 4-for-30 during that stretch, and he'll receive a day to reset Sunday. Dustin Garneau takes over behind the plate and will bat ninth for the Astros.
Sep 15 2020Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run Tuesday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado tallied two extra-base hits in the contest, the first a double to lead off the seventh inning. One frame later, he clubbed his fifth homer of the season -- a solo shot against Jimmy Herget. It was his first home run since Sept. 3, though he still has a respectable .248/.370/.416 line with 18 runs scored and 21 RBI across 137 plate appearances to this point in the campaign.
Sep 8 2020Maldonado is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Athletics, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado went 0-for-3 with a strikeout during the matinee and will take a seat for the nightcap. Dustin Garneau will start behind the plate for Houston in Game 2.
Sep 7 2020Maldonado will sit Monday against Oakland, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has handled a heavy workload behind the plate this season, starting 32 times in 41 games. Dustin Garneau gets the start in his absence.
Sep 3 2020Maldonado went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, double, two runs scored and walk in Thursday's win over Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The backstop took Lance Lynn deep for a solo shot in the sixth. It marked Maldonado's fourth homer of the season. Although he has typically hit near the bottom of Houston's lineup, he has provided steady production, slashing .272/.416/.457 to go along with 18 RBI.
Sep 1 2020Maldonado is not in the lineup Tuesday against Texas, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado remains the clear primary option behind the plate in Houston, starting 27 of 34 games thus far. Dustin Garneau gets the nod Tuesday.
Aug 25 2020Maldonado isn't in the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado went 0-for-2 with a walk and one strikeout in the first game of the doubleheader, and he'll take a seat for Game 2. Dustin Garneau will start behind the plate in his absence.
Aug 22 2020Maldonado isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has seen the majority of the playing time at catcher, but he'll get a day off for the team's second game against the Padres. Dustin Garneau will start behind the plate Saturday.
Aug 20 2020Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 13-6 road win over Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado's shot in the third inning started the Astros' offensive onslaught. His stick in 2020 is more potent than it's ever been, as Maldonado has a career-high .802 OPS. The nine-hole hitter is reaping the benefits of a Houston lineup that is one of the best in MLB; Maldonado has 16 RBI over 20 games (58 at-bats), well ahead of any pace in previous seasons.
Aug 17 2020Maldonado is not starting Monday against the Rockies, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has handled a very heavy workload behind the plate in Houston this season, as he's started 18 of the team's first 22 games. Dustin Garneau will be the catcher Monday.
Aug 16 2020Maldonado went 2-for-3 with two singles and a RBI in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado's single in the fourth inning drove in Kyle Tucker to tie the game at two. The catcher is performing slightly above his career numbers thus far in 2020, slashing .235/.381/.392.
Aug 12 2020Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has run hot and cold early on. He began the year with five hits in his first three games before going into a 1-for-21 funk. The 33-year-old seems to be heating back up again, but he's a career .218 hitter, so expect more valleys than peaks moving forward.
Aug 10 2020Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-4 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado's first homer of the year gave the Astros a 6-0 lead in the sixth inning. He's picked up eight RBI, four runs scored and a .194 batting average in 13 contests this season. The 33-year-old will likely continue to see most of the time behind the dish
Aug 8 2020Maldonado isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado drew walks in each of the past four contests, but he'll take a seat after Saturday's 13-inning loss. Dustin Garneau will start behind the dish and bat ninth.
Aug 2 2020Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is just getting a break after catching each of the Astros' last four games and going 1-for-10 at the dish. Dustin Garneau will step in behind the plate in Maldonado's stead, catching for starting pitcher Josh James.
Jul 27 2020Maldonado will sit Monday against the Mariners, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado started each of the season's first three games but will get a rest Monday. Dustin Garneau gets the nod behind the plate in his absence.
Jul 25 2020Maldonado went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 8-2 win over Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado helped pick up the lineup that didn't get much output from its top stars -- George Springer, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa went a combined 3-for-17. As a career .219, Maldonado is not expected to carry much of the offense on this stacked roster.
Mar 7 2020Maldonado (thumb) is in the lineup for Saturday's spring game against the Cardinals, according to MLB.com. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado missed a few days after taking a foul ball off his left thumb, but he will be back behind the plate Saturday and will hit seventh in the Astros' batting order.
Mar 4 2020Maldonado (thumb) said he's hopeful he'll be ready to rejoin Houston's Grapefruit League lineup Friday against the Mets, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has been out of action since Sunday, when he took a foul tip off his thumb and then aggravated the injury while catching later in the game. He said he would have been available Tuesday if the Astros were playing a regular-season game, so the club is seemingly just taking a cautious approach with the veteran, who will serve as Houston's top catcher in 2020.
Mar 3 2020Maldonado recently took a foul ball of his left thumb and was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Cardinals as a precaution, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado was labeled by manager Dusty Baker as the Astros' No. 1 catcher heading in to spring training following the departure of free agent Robinson Chirinos. The 33-year-old has spent time on five different major-league rosters during the past two seasons and is valued as one of the league's premier defensive options behind the plate. Maldonado owns a career .219 batting average, but demonstrated flashes of power towards the end of last season in Houston, hitting six home runs to go along with a .464 slugging percentage across 27 regular season contests.
Feb 20 2020Manager Dusty Baker labeled Maldonado as the Astros' No. 1 catcher Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After Houston elected to let Robinson Chirinos walk in free agency while bringing back Maldonado on a two-year, $7 million deal, it was already fairly apparent that the latter would open the season atop the depth chart at catcher. Baker's willingness to confirm as much ensures that Maldonado will see the bulk of the work to begin the season, while the relatively unproven Garrett Stubbs likely serves as the No. 2 option behind the plate. Stubbs probably offers the more interesting bat of the two along with the higher fantasy ceiling if given a larger share of plate appearances, but Maldonado's defensive prowess should be enough to keep his playing time secure.
Dec 20 2019Maldonado signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Astros on Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado made three stops in 2019, playing for the Cubs, Astros and Royals. He slashed .213/.293/.378 with 12 home runs and 27 RBI over 105 contests. Maldonado will bring a veteran presence behind the dish and is set to compete for playing time with Garrett Stubbs and Dustin Garneau.
Oct 23 2019Maldonado went 1-for-1 with a solo home run Wednesday in a 12-3 loss to the Nationals in Game 2 of the World Series. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado entered the game in the top of the seventh after Kyle Tucker had pinch-hit for starting catcher Robinson Chirinos. He homered off Javy Guerra in the ninth to round out the scoring, his second extra-base hit and first home run of these playoffs. A trade-deadline acquisition from the Cubs, Maldonado hit just .202 for the Astros during the regular season but did pop six home runs in those 27 games.
Oct 5 2019Maldonado is in the lineup for Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rays on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado has had a fairly consistent role in Houston since coming over at the deadline, hitting .202/.316/.464 for his new team. He'll bat ninth Saturday and catch Gerrit Cole.
Sep 9 2019Maldonado went 2-for-5 with a walk, a double, an RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 21-1 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Maldonado is more important to the Astros for his defensive skills, but he joined the team's bludgeoning of Mariners pitching. The multiple-hit effort was his first since joining the Astros at the trade deadline. He's batting just .203 over 18 games in Houston.
Aug 26 2019Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 11-2 win over the Angels.
Aug 20 2019Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's victory over Detroit.
Jul 31 2019Maldonado was traded from the Cubs to the Astros in exchange for Tony Kemp on Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Jul 24 2019Maldonado is out of the lineup<\/a> for Wednesday's game against the Giants.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 21 2019Maldonado is starting at catcher and batting eighth<\/a> in Sunday's game against the Padres.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 15 2019Maldonado was traded from the Royals to the Cubs on Monday in exchange for Mike Montgomery, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 14 2019Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Greg Johns of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 4 2019Maldonado is out of the lineup<\/a> for Thursday's game against the Indians.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 26 2019Maldonado is out of the lineup<\/a> for Wednesday's game against the Indians.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 22 2019Maldonado is out of the lineup<\/a> for Saturday's game against the Twins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 19 2019Maldonado is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 16 2019Maldonado went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 8-6 win over the Twins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 14 2019Maldonado is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Twins, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 8 2019Maldonado is not in Saturday's lineup against the White Sox, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 6 2019Maldonado is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox, Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 4 2019Maldonado (forearm) is catching and batting eighth<\/a> Tuesday against the Red Sox.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 2 2019Maldonado (forearm) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers, Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 1 2019Maldonado left Saturday's game against the Rangers with right forearm tightness, Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 28 2019Maldonado is out of the lineup<\/a> for Tuesday night's game against the White Sox.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 25 2019Maldonado will sit for the second game<\/a> of Saturday's doubleheader against the Yankees.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 22 2019Maldonado is out of the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Cardinals, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 19 2019Maldonado is out of the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game against the Angels.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 16 2019Maldonado is out of the lineup<\/a> for Thursday's game against the Rangers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 12 2019Maldonado is not in the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game against the Phillies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 22 2018Maldonado is out of the lineup Sunday against the Astros, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.Maldonado will receive his first breather of the second half after he was behind the plate for the first two games of the weekend. Jose Briceno checks in behind the plate, catching for Andrew Heaney.
Jul 13 2018Maldonado is out of Friday's starting lineup against the Dodgers, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.Maldonado will get the day off after starting five straight games. Jose Briceno will bat eighth and handle the catching duties in his stead.
Jul 6 2018Maldonado is out of Friday's lineup against the Dodgers, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.He had started five of the previous six games. Jose Briceno will start behind the dish and hit ninth.
Jul 1 2018Maldonado is out of the lineup Sunday against the Orioles.Maldonado will pick up a routine rest on getaway day after he was behind the plate for all 18 innings of the previous two games of the series. His absence clears a spot in the lineup for Jose Briceno, who will catch Deck McGuire in the latter's first big-league start of the season.
Jun 28 2018Maldonado is not in the lineup against the Red Sox on Thursday.Maldonado will receive a standard breather following four straight starts. In his place, Jose Briceno will catch and bat eighth in the order.
Jun 27 2018Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run, a walk and two strikeouts in Wednesday's loss to the Red Sox.Maldonado helped key a comeback from six runs down with his sixth-inning blast, though it would still not be enough after some late game bullpen woes. The catcher isn't have a particularly eye-popping season at the plate -- he's slashing .243/.301/.357 with four homers and 29 RBI -- but he's now driven in seven runs over the last four games.
Jun 24 2018Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and four RBI in the Angels' 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday.It was a big day at the plate for the 31-year-old backstop, who drove in four of his team's six runs on the day with his pair of hits that included a bases-loaded double. He's still not having an especially notable offensive season, as Maldonado is slashing .251/.309/.357 with just three home runs over his 199 at-bats.
Jun 23 2018Maldonado is not starting Saturday against the Blue Jays.Maldonado sits after starting six straight games behind the plate. Jose Briceno will get the nod in his place.
Jun 15 2018Maldonado is not in the lineup against Oakland on Friday, Julian McWilliams of The Athletic reports.Maldonado will take the night off after going 1-for-5 with a run scored and three strikeouts during Wednesday's game in Seattle. In his place, Jose Briceno will catch Tyler Skaggs for the series opener.
Jun 10 2018Maldonado (foot) will start at catcher and bat eighth Sunday against the Twins.Maldonado was on the bench Saturday due to a left foot injury, but the day off was apparently all he needed to heal up. Assuming he makes it out of Sunday's contest without any setbacks, he should be ready to handle a full workload behind the plate during the upcoming week.
Jun 9 2018Maldonado (foot) isn't in Saturday's starting lineup against the Twins, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.Maldonado will get a day to rest after fouling a ball off his left foot in Friday's tilt. Manager Mike Scioscia stated Maldonado is fine, but he was spotted limping into the clubhouse Saturday morning, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports, so he'll be considered day-to-day. Jose Briceno is penciled into the lineup in his place.
Jun 3 2018Maldonado is out of the lineup Sunday against the Rangers, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles reports.It will be a routine day off for Maldonado after he was behind the dish for both of the first two games of the series. Jose Briceno will pick up his third start of the season with the Angels while Maldonado takes a seat.
May 31 2018Maldonado is not in Thursday's starting lineup against the Tigers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.Maldonado will get a breather after starting four straight games. He's gone 3-for-15 with one home run and three RBI over that span. Jose Briceno will handle the catching duties and is slated to bat ninth in Thursday's series finale.
May 26 2018Maldonado is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.Maldonado will head to the bench for a breather after starting the previous nine games behind the dish. In his place, Jose Briceno will make his major-league debut at catcher, hitting ninth.
May 12 2018Maldonado is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Twins.Maldonado has been on a hot streak since the start of May, going 12-for-22 which is already more hits than he had in the entire month of April. Rene Rivera will catch and bat ninth for the Angels on Saturday as Maldonado gets a day of rest.
May 9 2018Maldonado is not in the lineup Wednesday in Colorado.The veteran catcher is hitting .218 through 24 games, exactly in line with his career mark. Rene Rivera will start in his place Wednesday.
May 8 2018Maldonado was activated from the bereavement list Tuesday. He is starting at catcher and hitting eighth against the Rockies.Maldonado is back with the Angels after spending the weekend away from the team on the bereavement list. The backstop, who is hitting .213/.306/.307 through 23 games this season, will face Jon Gray in his first game back. Juan Graterol was sent to the minors in a corresponding move.
May 4 2018Maldonado was placed on the bereavement list Friday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.This explains why Maldonado isn't in the lineup Friday. MLB rules require a three-day minimum absence, with seven days being the longest absence allowed. He'll be replaced on the active roster by Juan Graterol.
May 4 2018Maldonado is not in the lineup against the Mariners on Friday.Maldonado will get the day off after starting the past three games behind the plate. In his place, Rene Rivera will catch and bat ninth in the order. Expect Maldonado back in the lineup Saturday.
May 3 2018Maldonado fell a triple short of the cycle Wednesday, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in a 10-7 win over Baltimore.It was Maldonado's second consecutive three-hit performance following a rough 0-for-33 stretch over his previous 11 games. The veteran backstop is still slashing a meager .222/.309/.319 this season, with his defensive abilities keeping him in the lineup on a regular basis.
Apr 29 2018Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's matchup against the Yankees.Over the last seven games, Maldonado has gone 0-for-14, bringing his batting average down to .156 for the year. He'll get the day off while Rene Rivera fills in behind the dish.
Apr 25 2018Maldonado is not in the lineup against the Astros on Wednesday.Maldonado will get a standard day off for maintenance purposes after starting the past three games behind the plate. In his absence, Rene Rivera will catch Nick Tropeano and bat ninth.
Apr 21 2018Maldonado is out of the lineup against the Giants on Saturday.Maldonado will take a seat Saturday after starting the past four games behind the plate for the Halos. Rene Rivera will again replace him at catcher and bat ninth.
Apr 14 2018Maldonado is out of Saturday's lineup against the Royals, 610 Sports Radio Kansas City reports.He will sit for the fifth time in 16 games this season. Rene Rivera will start behind the dish and hit ninth. Maldonado is hitting .256/.341/.308 with a 13.6 percent strikeout rate in 39 at-bats.
Apr 11 2018Maldonado is out of the lineup against Texas on Wednesday, TR Sullivan of MLB.com reports.Maldonado will receive a standard day off following three straight starts, including a 3-for-5 night with two RBI during Tuesday's victory. In his place, Rene Rivera will catch Jaime Barria and bat ninth in the order.
Apr 10 2018Maldonado went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and one run scored Tuesday against the Rangers.Maldonado has swung a hot bat to begin the series against the Rangers, going 5-for-8 with two runs scored and four RBI. His batting average sits at .323 for the season but he has relied on an inflated BABIP to get there. He should continue to see consistent at-bats as the Angels' top catcher but his fantasy value will be limited thanks to his lack of power and low spot in the batting order.
Apr 7 2018Maldonado is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.Maldonado heads to the bench Saturday after starting the last two games for the Angels. The 31-year-old has yet to start more than two consecutive games this season, again yielding to Rene Rivera behind the plate.
Apr 3 2018Maldonado is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Indians.Maldonado will head to the bench for a breather after starting four of the team's first five games behind the dish, including two straight. In his place, Rene Rivera will start at catcher and hit ninth.
Mar 31 2018Maldonado is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against Oakland, Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group reports.Maldonado will get the day off after setting up behind the plate in bak-to-back days to start the 2018 season. In his place, Rene Rivera will catch Matt Shoemaker and bat ninth in the order.
Jan 11 2018Maldonado agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Angels on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.After splitting catching duties in Milwaukee over the previous five years, Maldonado was thrust into a starting role with the Angels this past season, appearing in a career-high 138 games. His offensive numbers left a lot to be desired with a .221 average and 73 wRC+, but the backstop flashed his elite defensive abilities en route to his first Gold Glove award. He's expected to be the primary catching option again in 2018, but his offensive deficiencies make him a very low-end fantasy option.
Oct 1 2017Maldonado isn't in the lineup for Sunday's matchup against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.Maldonado sat out two of the last three games, but will return to the bench after Saturday's 0-for-3, two strikeout outing. Maldonado played in 138 games this season, over which he hit .221/.276/.368. Juan Graterol is starting at catcher and hitting ninth with Maldonado out.
Sep 29 2017Maldonado is not in the lineup Friday for the second day in a row.Maldonado has made a lot of starts behind the plate this season, so manager Mike Scioscia is giving him a bit of a break as the season winds down. Juan Graterol will get the start Friday in Maldonado's place.
Sep 28 2017Maldonado is out of the lineup against Chicago on Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.Maldonado retreats to the bench following four straight starts behind the plate, going 5-for-13 with a pair of doubles during that span. In his place, Carlos Perez will handle the catching duties.
Sep 23 2017Maldonado is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Astros, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register.Maldonado will get just his second day off of the month Saturday with the Angels playing an early afternoon affair following Friday's night game. Juan Graterol will get the start behind the plate in Maldonado's place.
Sep 6 2017Maldonado is not in the lineup for Wednesday's matchup against the A's, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.After starting 11 consecutive games, Maldonado will get a well-deserved day off. Over said games Maldonado pieced together a disappointing .211 batting average, but mashed three home runs. Juan Graterol will fill in at catcher and hit eighth Wednesday.
Sep 5 2017Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in Monday's win over the Athletics.The veteran backstop has put together a solid week -- by his standards -- with a .259 batting average and three homers over his last seven contests. His overall numbers leave much to be desired (.227/.288/.385), but Maldonado's career-high 14 homers puts him on the map in two-catcher leagues.
Aug 29 2017Maldonado went 3-for-3 with two runs scored in Monday's 3-1 win over the Athletics.In addition to the strong offensive showing, Maldonado called a great game behind the plate, aiding Angels starter Andrew Heaney to a career-high 10 strikeouts on the night. The three base knocks were the greater takeaway from a fantasy perspective, however, as Maldonado was able to end a four-game slide where he had gone 0-for-11. The backstop is still slashing an unremarkable .188/.258/.286, but his standing as the Angels' top catching option seems to be secure.
Aug 24 2017Maldonado is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.Maldonado will get the series finale off after starting the first three games of the series and going 4-for-13 (.308). Juan Graterol will take over behind the dish for him, batting eighth.
Aug 20 2017Maldonado is not in the lineup Sunday against the Orioles, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.Maldonado is 0-for-11 over his last three starts, so he'll get the day off to gather himself after starting seven of the last eight games at backstop. Juan Graterol will fill in for him behind the dish for the contest.
Aug 16 2017Maldonado is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Nationals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.After having been behind the plate for the past five contests, Maldonado will take a seat as the Angels play a day game after a night game. Backup Juan Graterol will check in a catcher, serving as the batterymate for Ricky Nolasco.
Aug 9 2017Maldonado is out of the starting lineup Wednesday against the Orioles.The 30-year-old will cede catching duties to Juan Graterol for the second time in the last four games, indicating the Angels may be moving away from the slumping Maldonado as an everyday option. The veteran backstop has gone just 2-for-23 over his last seven starts after batting .194 in the month of July.
Aug 6 2017Maldonado is out of the lineup Sunday against the Athletics, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.Maldonado will receive a routine maintenance day in the series finale, opening up a start behind the plate for Juan Graterol. The backstop hasn't been helping out fantasy owners of late with a 3-for-27 (.111 average) showing over his last 10 games, but he's at little risk of falling into a timeshare with Graterol.
Jul 27 2017Maldonado is out of the lineup Thursday agains the Indians.Maldonado is coming off 10 consecutive starts -- his longest such stretch of the season. Over that period since the All-Star break, his bat has cooled off a little bit, as he's hitting .182 with nine strikeouts. He does have two long balls, though, so there's no reason for fantasy owners to panic. Juan Graterol will pick up a rare start in his stead for the series finale.
Jul 22 2017Maldonado went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Red Sox.Friday night's performance contributed to what has been Maldonado's best season at the plate. The 30-year-old backstop is now slashing .247/.310/.418 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI. It isn't an overly flashy stat line, although his sneaky power and consistent playing time make him worth a look in two-catcher leagues given the dearth of other options behind the plate.
Jul 19 2017Maldonado went 1-for-3 with his 10th home run of the season in Tuesday's loss to the Nationals.The defensive-minded backstop is putting together his best offensive season as a major leaguer. The 30-year-old has already set a career-high in homers with ten, and he is just three RBI away from doing the same in that category. Maldonado's .245 batting average and poor lineup placement holds him back in standard leagues, but he has done enough in terms of power to remain relevant in deep two-catcher formats.
Jul 9 2017Maldonado is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.After starting each of the team's previous three games, Maldonado will get a breather during the weekend series finale against Yu Darvish and the Rangers. Juan Graterol will take over behind the plate, batting ninth.
Jul 4 2017Maldonado is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Twins, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.After delivering his ninth home run of the season in Monday's series opener, Maldonado will rest up following a string of three consecutive starts. Backup backstop Juan Graterol gets the nod behind the plate and will bat ninth.
Jul 4 2017Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Monday's loss to Minnesota.The backstop is having a respectable fantasy seasons with a .251/.316/.420 slash line, nine homers, 26 RBI and 24 runs. Those numbers don't jump off the page, but there are plenty of deeper settings where Maldonado is a serviceable asset. It also helps that he's receiving consistent at-bats.
Jun 30 2017Maldonado is not in the lineup Friday against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.Maldonado will head to the bench for what appears to be a regular day of rest after starting each of the past four contests. Juan Graterol will crouch behind the dish in his stead.
Jun 27 2017Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's win over the Dodgers.Monday's home run came four games after Maldonado's two-homer game against the Yankees. He has already matched his career high in long balls in just 66 games, good for a .431 slugging percentage. The 30-year-old began the season as an afterthought in fantasy circles, but his production warrants consideration in deep two-catcher formats.
Jun 25 2017Maldonado is not in Sunday's lineup against the Red Sox, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.Maldonado will get a typical day off after starting the past five games. He has been mashing from the plate during this east coast trip, going 7-for-20 with two home runs and six RBI against the Yankees and Red Sox this week. In his place, Juan Graterol is behind the dish and batting ninth.
Jun 22 2017Maldonado went 3-for-4 with a double and a pair of two-run home runs to account for all the Angels' offense in Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the Yankees.He's now got seven homers on the year, one short of his career high, and Maldonado's current .764 OPS would also be a new personal best. The 30-year-old catcher has never played more than 79 games in a season before, however, so don't be surprised if he wears down in the second half after having already seen action in 62 games before the end of June.
Jun 18 2017Maldonado is out of the lineup Sunday against the Royals, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.It's a routine day off for Maldonado after the veteran backstop was behind the plate for the previous three games. Juan Graterol will serve as the Angels' catcher in the series finale.
Jun 14 2017Maldonado is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Yankees, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.Maldonado will head to the bench after catching all 11 innings in Tuesday's win over the Yankees. Juan Graterol will take over behind the dish, batting ninth.
Jun 8 2017Maldonado will get a day off for Thursday's series finale against the Tigers, Pedro Moura of the LA Times reports.In his place, Juan Graterol is starting behind the plate while batting ninth. Maldonado went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's loss to Detroit, and has been putting together his best season to date with a line of .264/.331/.384. The 30-year-old will likely be back in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Astros.
Jun 4 2017Maldonado is out of the lineup Sunday against the Twins, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.With a .270 average, four homers and 15 RBI in 152 at-bats this season, Maldonado isn't lighting the world on fire, but he's quietly become a reliable option in deeper two-catcher and AL-only leagues. He'll be guaranteed the bulk of the starts behind the dish for the Angels, though manager Mike Scioscia will give Maldonado a day off in the series finale. Juan Graterol replaces Maldonado behind the plate.
May 30 2017Maldonado is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Braves, Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times reports.Maldy has just four hits over the past seven games, so he'll head to the bench after four straight starts. Juan Graterol will take over behind the dish in his place.
May 27 2017Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run in Friday's 8-5 loss to the Marlins.It's a rare sight to see Maldonado -- who is known for his defensive abilities -- lead the Angels' offense on a given day, but he did just that against Dan Straily. A career .223 hitter, the 30-year-old has been offering more from an offensive standpoint this season, batting .271 with three homers and 12 RBI in 42 games. While those numbers aren't forcing owners in standard leagues to rush to the waiver wire, those in two-catcher formats could certainly do worse.
May 25 2017Maldonado is out of the lineup Thursday against the Rays.Maldonado has started four consecutive games behind the plate, but is hitless in back-to-back contests to bring his average down to .264. He'll get a maintenance day Thursday, giving way to Juan Graterol behind the plate for the series finale.
May 10 2017Maldonado is out of Wednesday's lineup against the A's.After catching the last five games, he will take a seat in the day game against righty Andrew Triggs. Juan Graterol will get the start behind the dish and hit ninth.
May 4 2017Maldonado is not in the lineup Thursday against the Mariners.Maldonado will take a seat after starting each of the last five games, while Juan Graterol will get the start behind the plate in his stead.
Apr 29 2017Maldonado went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in the Angels' loss to the Rangers on Saturday.The 30-year-old seized the primary catching duties earlier in the month by getting off to a solid start at the plate, but since the demotion of fellow backstop Carlos Perez, Maldonado is batting just .182 with seven strikeouts in 22 at-bats. Neither Perez nor current backup Juan Graterol have proven to be competent hitters in the major leagues, but Maldonado will need to pick things up if he wants to avoid becoming part of a timeshare with his younger counterparts.
Apr 19 2017Maldonado reached base three times Tuesday, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in a 5-2 win over Houston.The Angels' catcher position looked like it was heading for a timeshare between Maldonado and Carlos Perez when both catchers were struggling during spring training. Things have changed since then, with the former getting off to a hot start (.294/.385/.324) and seizing the starting job. Maldonado is still providing nothing in the counting stat categories, but an empty batting average may be good enough for owners to roster in two-catcher formats.
Apr 16 2017Maldonado is out of the lineup Sunday against the Royals, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.Angels manager Mike Scioscia is just handing Maldonado a routine day off after the 30-year-old catcher was behind the plate for the first two games of the series. Carlos Perez will handle catching duties in the series finale.
Apr 9 2017Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.Maldonado seems to have established himself as the Angels' primary backstop, so his absence from the lineup Sunday is likely just for rest purposes rather than as a result of poor performance. Carlos Perez will assume catching duties, working as the battery mate for starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker.
Apr 5 2017Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI in Tuesday's win over the Athletics.The 30-year-old has started behind the dish for both of the Angels' games this season. Manager Mike Scioscia was vague when he discussed his two catchers' playing time during spring training, but early indications are that Maldonado will be seeing the lion's share of starts. Known for his defensive ability rather than his bat, the veteran catcher is only worth looks in deeper two-catcher formats.
Mar 26 2017Maldonado has been mired in a 4-for-39 slump this spring.The veteran backstop is known for his defensive abilities, not his offensive prowess, so the lack of production shouldn't be a huge surprise here. Still, Maldonado is trying to carve out a role in the Angels' lineup out of camp, and both he and fellow catcher, Carlos Perez, have failed to stay above the Mendoza line this spring. This is one of the least-interesting catcher battles from a fantasy perspective, and a timeshare behind the dish is a definite possibility.
Feb 15 2017Manager Mike Scioscia said he will let his catcher situation play out this season, the Orange County Register reports.Initial thinking was that Maldonado would get the lion's share of starts behind the dish with his new club, but Scioscia may have other ideas regarding how he splits up starts behind the plate. He brought up a good point in that Maldonado has never caught 100 games in a season before. Scioscia even hinted at a potential 50-50 split in playing time between he and fellow catcher Carlos Perez. Neither catcher had much offensive value in the first place, but a timeshare would almost assuredly render both useless in even deep formats.
Jan 15 2017Maldonado agreed to a one-year, $1.725 million deal with the Angels on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.Prior to being acquired by the Angels in December of 2016, Maldonado acted as the Brewers' back-up catcher for the better part of the past five seasons. Known more for his defensive prowess, the veteran catcher owns a career batting average of .217. He'll likely receive a fair amount of playing time for the Angels in 2017, but doesn't figure to provide much of an offensive impact.
Dec 13 2016The Brewers traded Maldonado to the Angels on Tuesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.Milwaukee packaged Maldonado with a yet-to-be-named minor league pitcher to land an upgrade at the catcher position in Jett Bandy. Maldonado graded out favorably behind the plate in 2016 and walked at a 13.8 percent clip, but the rest of his offensive numbers were less than stellar. Still, Maldonado would seem to have a leg up on Carlos Perez for the lion's share of the playing time in 2017.
Oct 2 2016Maldonado will yield Sunday's season finale start behind the plate to Andrew Susac.Susac will bat seventh for the Brewers, while Maldonado will finish the season having gathered just a .202/.332/.351 batting line with eight home runs over 76 games. It's unlikely he fits the mold of a starting catcher for the Brewers moving forward, and it wouldn't be surprising if he returns to a backup role in 2017.
Sep 23 2016Maldonado is not in the lineup Friday against the Reds.Maldonado has acted as the primary catcher since Jonathan Lucroy's departure, but the 29-year-old will take the evening off to get some rest before the final week of the season. Andrew Susac will slot in behind the dish to replace him.
Sep 20 2016Maldonado homered, a solo shot, in a 2-for-4 game Tuesday against the Pirates.Maldonado is in the majors for his excellent defense, not his bat, but he has been showing some solid power this season. He tied a career high with his eighth home run Tuesday and is now slugging .351 despite just a .194 batting average. Unfortunately, Maldonado has managed an OPS over .700 just twice in five MLB seasons and is unlikely to provide much fantasy value aside from running into the occasional home run.
Sep 9 2016Maldonado is out of the lineup Friday against the Cardinals.Despite the big night Thursday, Maldonado will get another night off. Manny Pina will assume catching duties in his place.
Sep 7 2016Maldonado is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.Maldonado is just 1-for-13 (.077) at the plate this month, so manager Craig Counsell decided to give him a day off Wednesday. Manny Pina will serve as the Brewers' catcher in Maldonado's place.
Sep 4 2016Maldonado is out of the lineup Sunday against the Pirates.Maldonado will get a regular day of rest after catching five consecutive contests for the Brewers. Manny Pina will man the backstop in his stead.
Aug 28 2016Maldonado is sitting out Sunday against Pittsburgh.Manny Pina will start behind the dish as Maldonado gets the day off. Maldonado has started four of Milwaukee's last seven games and has gone just 3-for-14 over said outings.
Aug 25 2016Maldonado is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.Maldonado will get a night off after starting three straight games behind the plate. Manny Pina will get the start at catcher in Maldonado's place.
Aug 24 2016Maldonado went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Tuesday's game against the Rockies.The catcher hit a pair of doubles Tuesday to push his average back up above the Mendoza Line. After a lackluster first half in which he played the backup role to Jonathan Lucroy, Maldonado has shown improvement in recent weeks since getting the starting gig after Lucroy was traded. He's already got more at-bats post All-Star break (69) than he did prior to the Midsummer Classic (66), and Maldonado's .261 second-half batting average is greatly improved from the .152 he posted in the first half of 2016.
Aug 21 2016Maldonado is not in the lineup Sunday for the second time in three days.Maldonado has seen the majority of the starts behind the plate since Jonathan Lucroy's departure, but fellow backstop Manny Pina has hit the ball far better than Maldonado this month, and is starting to cut into Maldonado's playing time.
Aug 14 2016Maldonado is out of the lineup Sunday against the Reds.Maldonado has started back-to-back games behind the plate, but will be awarded a day of rest Sunday in favor of Manny Pina. Consistent playing time has actually done well for Maldonado, as the backstop owns a .292/.414/.479 slash line since July 21. He becomes arbitration-eligible in 2017, so posting numbers like that will lead to what he hopes to be a bigger payday this offseason.
Aug 11 2016Maldonado is out of Thursday's lineup against the Braves.He will get his second day off over the last three games, making way for Manny Pina, who is batting eighth Thursday. With Andrew Susac likely to join the Brewers at some point before the end of the season, Maldonado's run as the starting backstop could be short-lived.
Aug 9 2016Maldonado is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Braves.With Maldonado getting a maintenance day, Manny Pina will get the nod to start behind the dish Tuesday night. Maldonado's struggles at the plate have continued in recent contests, as he's gone just 3-for-20 with nine strikeouts over the last seven days.
Aug 8 2016Maldonado hit a two-run home run in a 1-for-5 game in a loss Monday to AtlantaMaldonado hit his first home run in June 1. Since then, he is hitting .239/.357/.451 with five homers in 25 games. Maldonado strikes out too much to hit for a good batting average, but he has solid power and should be able to reach double-digits in home runs now that the Jonathan Lucroy trade has cleared his path to playing time.
Aug 1 2016Maldonado is in the lineup Monday against the Padres.Now that Jonathan Lucroy has officially been traded, Maldonado will be seeing a lot more time behind the plate and look to increase his low production. Maldonado is hitting just .202 this season, but will be in a favorable matchup Monday night against the struggling Jarred Cosart.
Jul 25 2016Maldonado went 2-for-3 with a walk and a three-run homer in Monday's win versus the Diamondbacks.The backup catcher made the most of his start on Monday by dealing the fatal blow to Diamondbacks' rookie pitcher Braden Shipley. The 29-year-old catcher's sixth-inning shot gave him four on the season, matching his total in each of the previous three years. Playing second fiddle to Jonathan Lucroy, one of the better offensive catchers in baseball, Maldonado is nothing more than a punt play in daily formats.
Jul 4 2016Maldonado got the start behind the plate Monday and went 1-for-3 with a solo shot in a 1-0 win over the Nationals.The two teams combined for just seven hits all game and Maldonado's was the only one that wasn't a single. Playing time remains scarce for the Brewers' backup catcher but two of his three homers on the season have come in the last eight days, which might encourage manager Craig Counsell to put Maldonado's name on the lineup card a little more often.
Jun 1 2016Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a homer in Wednesday's 3-1 win over St. Louis.Maldonado's homer was a bright spot in an otherwise poor season so far as he's batted .091 coming into Wednesday's game. He's only started 10 games this year with Jonathan Lucroy receiving most of the catching duties which has likely resulted in the 29-year-old not finding his groove yet.
May 7 2016Maldonado is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's tilt with the Reds, Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.Maldonado got the start behind the plate for the Brewers Friday night, as they opted to give Jonathan Lucroy the night off. He went 0-for-1 on the night, but reached base on two walks, one of which intentional, and one hit-by-pitch. He will be available for pinch-hitting situations.
May 3 2016Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI in Sunday's game against the Angels.All of Maldonado's hit, run, and RBI were his first on the season. He is just 1-for-18 (.056), but his opportunities have been limited, with him starting only five games and appearing in just seven in all. His playing time will remain limited as long as fellow catcher Jonathan Lucroy is healthy and part of the squad.
Apr 11 2016Maldonado went 0-for-3 with a walk in Sunday's victory over the Astros.Maldonado made his first start of the season Sunday with Jonathan Lucroy getting the day off. Maldonado will play sparingly as long as Lucroy is around, but if Lucroy is traded to another team as has been rumored, Maldonado would be the favorite to take over as the Brewers' regular catcher.
Mar 8 2016Maldonado is 3-for-9 with a double and run scored through four games this spring.This is a good start for a player who hit just .210/.282/.293 in 2015. However, the only way he sees significant playing time this year will be if Jonathan Lucroy suffers another injury-plagued season.
Oct 2 2015Maldonado will not be in the lineup Friday against the Cubs.Maldonado has started the last five games behind the plate with Jonathan Lucroy injured, so it's natural that he gets the night off Friday. Nevin Ashley will get the start in his place and hit eighth in the batting order.
Sep 27 2015Maldonado will be behind the plate for his sixth start in seven games Sunday against the Cardinals.Jonathan Lucroy returned from a concussion a few days ago, but with the Brewers no longer planning on using him at catcher the rest of the way, Maldonado will hang on to an everyday role. At this point, Maldonado's sickly .207/.283/.298 batting line limits his appeal to NL-only formats.
Sep 25 2015Maldonado is out of the lineup Friday against the Cardinals.Maldonado has taken over the everyday duties behind the plate with regular starter Jonathan Lucroy still out with a concussion, but he'll get a day off Friday. Nevin Ashley will get the nod at catcher, batting eighth.
Aug 31 2015Maldonado went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and runs scored in Sunday's win over the Reds.Maldonado's playing time has been sparse since Jonathan Lucroy returned from the DL in early June; Sunday's start behind the plate was just his fourth in August. Even though Lucroy hasn't played like the NL MVP candidate he was a year earlier, he's still a far superior offensive threat compared to Maldonado, who is hitting just .203/.278/.285 over 177 plate appearances.
Jun 1 2015With Jonathan Lucroy (toe) returning from the DL for Monday's game against the Cardinals, Maldonado is expected to settle back into a reserve role on a regular basis.Maldonado ended his run as the Brewers' primary catcher with a huge four-hit, two-walk game in Sunday's series finale against the Diamondbacks that included a walk-off homer in the 17th inning. On the whole, though, he failed to provide much offense during his time in a featured role, as his weak .182/.254/.273 line for the season would seem to illustrate. Given that Lucroy was one of the most productive catchers in the league last season, don't expect Maldonado to see more than one or two starts per week behind the plate.
Jun 1 2015Maldonado went 4-for-6 with two doubles and a walk-off home run in Sunday's victory over the Diamondbacks.Maldonado caught all 17 innings in Sunday's marathon, but that did not prevent him from coming through in the clutch. He saw regular playing time over the last six weeks with Jonathan Lucroy (toe) sidelined, but Lucroy's return is imminent, and Maldonado will move back into a reserve role whenever Lucroy is activated from the disabled list.
May 21 2015Maldonado is out of the lineup Thursday against the Braves.Maldonado receives most of the starts behind the plate in the absence of Jonathan Lucroy, but will receive a relatively rare day off Thursday. Juan Centeno will start behind the plate and bat seventh for the Brewers.
May 10 2015Maldonado came through for his team on Sunday, going 3-for-5 with a home run and the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning.The 28-year-old has struggled as Milwaukee's everyday catcher in the absence of Jonathan Lucroy, but the strong showing on Sunday raised his batting average nearly 30 points and could be a step in the right direction. Expect Maldonado to continue to see the majority of the playing time at catcher for the Brew Crew, although his fantasy appeal is quite limited.
May 7 2015Maldonado is out of the lineup Thursday.Maldonado has been in the lineup without fail over the past nine games, so he had a day off coming. His defense is the reason he is the Brewers' starting catcher with Jonathan Lucroy out, so any offense he provides is an added bonus. Juan Centeno will get the start at catcher Thursday.
Apr 26 2015Maldonado is out of the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals.Maldonado had started five straight for the Brew Crew, so it was likely time to give him a day off for an afternoon game following an evening contest. Despite logging his first home run Tuesday, Maldy is hitting at a shaky .167/.231/.292 clip to start the year. Juan Centeno will man the backstop in his stead.
Apr 20 2015Maldonado looks to be in line for a dramatic increase in at-bats after everyday catcher Jonathan Lucroy suffered a fractured left toe in Monday's loss to the Reds.Maldonado entered the game in the seventh inning to replace Lucroy, who will be placed on the disabled list Tuesday and is expected to miss multiple weeks with the injury. Over 594 career plate appearances in the majors, Maldonado owns a pedestrian .222/.288/.354 batting line, but the guaranteed playing time headed his way should at least make him relevant in NL-only and two-catcher leagues.
Apr 12 2015Maldonado is getting the start Sunday against the Pirates.Maldonado is getting his first start of the season after only one plate appearance in Milwaukee's first five games. He'll match up against Casey Sadler.
Mar 18 2015Maldonado is 7-for-20 (.350) with a home run and six RBI through 10 spring games.Maldonado's hot spring won't earn him any more playing time as long as primary catcher Jonathan Lucroy is healthy, but he is likely due for an increase in at-bats anyway with Lucroy expected to see more action at first base than he did a season ago.
Jan 15 2015Maldonado agreed to a two-year contract with the Brewers to avoid arbitration.Maldonado will return as the top backup to star catcher Jonathan Lucroy, after only getting 111 at-bats last year, despite staying healthy for the entire season. Maldonado did well with the limited work, posting a .234/.320/.387 batting line, with four home runs and 16 RBI.
Jun 25 2014Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored in the Brewers' win over Washington on Wednesday.Jonathan Lucroy has put up elite numbers in the heart of the Milwaukee lineup this season, significantly limiting Maldonado's opportunities to play. When called upon, he's been effective, hitting .268/.379/.429 in a small sample (56 at-bats). As the Brewers seek out ways to improve their roster leading into the non-waiver trade deadline, it will be interesting to see if Maldonado is targeted by clubs seeking a controllable catcher.
May 30 2014Maldonado went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in Friday's victory over the Cubs.Maldonado got the start behind the plate with Jonathan Lucroy manning first base, and the lineup change worked well for manager Ron Roenicke, as the Brewers put up 11 runs on the Cubs. The 27-year-old brought his average up to .317 on the season, and remains one of the better backup catchers in the game.
May 5 2014Maldonado went 2-for-3 with a homer -- his first of the season -- and two RBI in the Brewers' win over Arizona on Monday.Jonathan Lucroy has been a workhorse for the Brewers early on this season, but Maldonado is a capable game-caller and bat when called upon, especially since he'll get chances to contribute in an offense that has significantly more depth in 2014.
Apr 28 2014Maldonado will be available for the Brewers on Monday after completing a five-game suspension.Maldonado was forced to sit out five games as punishment for his role in a brawl with the Pirates a couple weekends back, but he will be allowed to resume playing Monday. It remains to be seen if he or regular catcher Jonathan Lucroy will be in the lineup Monday night against the Cardinals.
Apr 22 2014Maldonado will begin serving his five-game suspension Tuesday night.The Brewers haven't announced a roster move to account for the lost depth behind the plate, but Maldonado will be unavailable through Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Apr 22 2014Maldonado has been suspended five games for his role in the Brewers' scuffle with the Pirates on Sunday, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.In addition to the ban, the commissioner's office tacked on a piddling $2,500 fine. Nevertheless, Maldonado has the right to appeal the punishment, so it's unclear when exactly the suspension will commence.
Apr 21 2014Maldonado is in the lineup Monday against the Padres.Maldonado will start in favor of Jonathan Lucroy, who has handled catching duties in six of the Brewers' past seven games. With a potential suspension looming for Maldonado following Sunday's brawl in Pittsburgh, manager Ron Roenicke likely wants to get some work in for his backup catcher while he can.
Apr 13 2014In his second start of the season, Maldonado went 1-for-2 with an RBI double, a walk and a run scored.Maldonado remains one of the better backup catchers in the game, but will continue to see limited opportunities backing up Jonathan Lucroy. He's now 1-for-7 on the year.
Mar 27 2014Maldonado has posted just a .535 OPS over 17 spring games, but he will open the season as the Brewers' third catcher.While Maldonado has really struggled with the bat this spring, his defense and familiarity with the pitching staff made him a lock for the backup catcher job as long as he stayed healthy. It remains to be seen if Maldonado will remain Wily Peralta's personal catcher in 2014, or if he will work more in more of an as-needed role behind starter Jonathan Lucroy.
Sep 9 2013Since the All-Star break, Maldonado is hitting just .154/.195/.179 over 14 games.Maldonado has seen his playing diminish in the second half in part due to his own struggles, and starter Jonathan Lucroy's hot-hitting. The Brewers are only carrying two catchers in September, but Maldonado is mainly reserved as the catcher for starter Wily Peralta. His struggles with the bat though make that about his only playing time opportunities other than occasionally as a defensive replacement for Lucroy at the end of a game.
Jun 25 2013Maldonado was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.Maldonado was in the original starting lineup, but he was removed and replaced by regular catcher Jonathan Lucroy. A reason for Maldonado's removal was not provided.
Jun 25 2013Maldonado will be the starting catcher in Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Brewers Dir. of Media Relations Mike Vassallo reports.Maldonado has found playing time hard to come by of late with starting catcher Jonathan Lucroy sizzling at the plate, but he will get the nod Tuesday night. Maldonado has just four hits in 20 June at-bats, but two of them have left the yard.
May 5 2013Maldonado went 2-for-4 and scored a run in Saturday's loss to the Cardinals.Maldonado started at catcher Saturday and recorded his fourth multi-hit game of the season. He has reached base nine times in his last four starts, but after starting at first base nine times in April, he figures to see a drop in playing time there with Aramis Ramirez back in the fold. However, he should see some spot action at first until Corey Hart (knee) returns at the end of the month, and he will still start once or twice per week behind the plate.
Apr 27 2013Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in the Brewers' win over the Dodgers on Saturday.The home run was Maldonado's first of the season after he hit eight in 78 games last season. Maldonado may infrequently spell Jonathan Lucroy behind the plate, but his occasional use at first base should make him somewhat useful in deeper two-catcher leagues.
Apr 20 2013Maldonado went 2-for-3 with a walk, a RBI, and a run scored while starting at first base on Saturday against the Cubs.Maldonado got it going with the bat on Saturday. The Brewers will likely begin to pair him with young pitcher Wily Peralta to give him some continuity on the mound and give starter Jonathan Lucroy some regular rest. Though it will give him some more consistent playing time, he still remains primarily in a substitute role at this point.
Apr 3 2013Maldonado will be behind the plate for Wednesday's game against the Rockies, Brewers Dir. of Media Relations Mike Vassallo reports.Maldonado will get the nod Wednesday in place of Jonathan Lucroy, who started the first two games of the season. Lucroy will see the bulk of the action behind the plate for the Brewers, but Maldonado earned himself some playing time with his showing last season, so he figures to make a start or two each week.
Mar 23 2013Maldonado has gone 3-for-9 in three games since returning to the Brewers following his stint with Team Puerto Rico in the WBC.Though Maldonado was away from the big league club for a few weeks, he is a lock to open the season as the Brewers' backup catcher behind Jonathan Lucroy. Maldonado impressed with his defensive skills and surprising power a year ago, so though Lucroy will be the primary starter, Maldonado figures to see a start or two per week during the regular season.
Oct 2 2012Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a grand slam Tuesday against the Padres.This was Maldonado's eighth home run of the season and his first since Aug. 14.
Aug 7 2012Maldonado went 3-for-4 with a homer and two doubles in Monday's victory over the Reds.With Jonathan Lucroy returning from his hand injury, it appears Maldonado's chances will be more limited going forward. He made the most out of his start last night and has raised his batting average to .286.
Jul 17 2012Maldonado will not start tonight against the Cardinals, backup George Kottaras will instead, according to the Official Twitter page of Brewers' media director Mike Vassallo.With Randy Wolf pitching for Milwaukee, backup George Kottaras almost exclusively is behing the plate. The has been the standard format for the Brewers, even before starter Jonathan Lucroy was injured (hand).
Jul 16 2012Maldonado started at catcher in each of Milwaukee's three games after the All-Star break, hitting 8-for-13 (.615) with one run scored, two doubles, one RBI, and his first career stolen base.George Kottaras had just one at-bat as a pinch hitter in the most recent series versus Pittsburgh, which means that Maldonado has likely secured most of the starts as the Brewers' backstop for the near future. This may change if Jonathan Lucroy (hand) returns from the DL next weekend, but Maldonado appears to have the upper hand over Kottaras in the three-game showdown with St. Louis beginning Monday.
Jul 5 2012Maldonado is in the starting lineup Thursday, batting eighth, Brewers Media Relations Director Mike Vassallo reports.Though Maldonado was expected to serve in mostly a backup capacity when Jonathan Lucroy was forced to the DL, he seems to have won a large share of the time at catcher over George Kottaras, starting five of the last six games. In 96 at-bats with the Brewers, Maldonado is batting .260 with five homers and 17 RBI.
Jun 24 2012Maldonado is in the starting lineup Sunday, batting seventh against the White Sox, Brewers Media Relations Director Mike Vassallo reports.Maldonado has been a useful backup catcher for the Brewers since being called up from Triple-A to fill the void left by Jonathan Lucroy's injury. He will get the starting nod over George Kottaras for Sunday's day game.
Jun 15 2012Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a run scored and hit a game-winning two-run home run against the Twins on Friday.Maldonado now has three home runs and nine RBI over his last seven games. He had been seeing a bit more playing time lately with George Kottaras banged up, but is still considered the backup and will likely be sent back down once Jonathan Lucroy comes back from the disabled list.
Jun 8 2012Maldonado went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, a run scored, a home run and three RBI against the Padres on Friday.Maldonado has been getting a little more playing time lately with George Kottaras banged up. While his average sits at .216 for the season, he is now batting .308 with two home runs and four RBI over his last five games.
May 28 2012Maldonado was called up by the Brewers to replace the injured Jonathan Lucroy.Maldonado is hitting just .198/.270/.347 at Triple-A Nashville, and his career track record suggests he's just a depth player. He may be pressed into more action than what might be expected, however, given that George Kottaras is a little banged up right now.