Sean Murphy DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy is eager for a rebound in 2025 after a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw him slash just .193/.284/.352 with 10 home runs, 25 RBI and 19 runs scored in 233 at-bats. But it was only the year prior in 2023 that he was the National League's starting catcher in the All-Star game. A strained oblique on Opening Day last year played a big part in his poor performance and caused him to miss two months. The 30-year-old hit .251 with 21 home runs and an .843 OPS in his first year in Atlanta, so a bounce-back is entirely possible for the former A's backstop. With Travis d'Arnaud no longer in town, Murphy could end up catching four out of every five games for the Braves in 2025. Savvy fantasy managers can snag Murphy at a discount in drafts this spring while hoping for a bounce-back performance with better health. He's RotoBaller's No. 15 fantasy catcher.

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy will not start in Game 1 of the team's big doubleheader on Monday at Truist Park against the division-rival New York Mets. With Murphy resting, Travis d'Arnaud will catch right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach and will bat seventh against Mets right-hander Tylor Megill. In nine career at-bats versus Megill, d'Arnaud is batting .222 with a .555 OPS. The Braves have elected to rest Murphy more in his second year with the team while also missing time with injuries. The 29-year-old backstop was a first-time All-Star in 2023 but has struggled in 71 games in 2024, hitting .194/.280/.353 with 10 homers and 25 RBI in 261 plate appearances. He has just four hits in 45 at-bats (.089) in 13 September games, but two of those hits have cleared the fences. d'Arnaud has been a bit more consistent with a .235 average, 15 homers and 48 RBI in 98 games in 2024.

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Minnesota Twins. This appears to be a routine rest day for Murphy who has started in six of the last seven games. It's worth noting that fellow catcher Travis d'Arnaud returned from the injured list over the weekend. He'll do the catching and bat fifth versus right-hander Bailey Ober on Monday. The 35-year-old is hitting .253 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI in 81 games this season. Between the two, d'Arnaud is the better option in fantasy leagues, but his value is dependent on his playing time.

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy is resting in Thursday's series finale at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants. Veteran Travis d'Arnaud will be behind the plate and will bat fifth against Giants right-hander Logan Webb. Murphy missed a big chunk of time in the first half of the season due to injury and just hasn't been able to get going in 2024 after he was a first-time All-Star a year ago in his first year in Atlanta. The Braves have made a concerted effort to get Murphy more rest to keep him healthy this season. The 29-year-old has hit .261 (12-for-46) with two home runs, a double, triple and only three RBI in 14 games since the All-Star break. d'Arnaud faces a tough matchup against Webb, against whom he's hit just .154 against in 13 career at-bats with a homer and two RBI.

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy went 1-for-4 with a walk and his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot, in Wednesday's 13-2 win over the Giants. Between injuries and ineffectiveness a the plate, it has been a rough season for the 29-year-old, however, he's shown some signs of life recently. The former third-round draft pick has gone 12-for-41 (.293) over his last 12 games, including a double, a triple, and two home runs. The former All-Star is now slashing .226/.310/.400 on the season with a .310 wOBA and 97 wRC+. Currently on a four-game hit streak, hopefully he can finish strong for those fantasy managers still counting on him.