Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy has a cracked rib and is expected to miss four to six weeks, the team said on Monday.

The injury gives top prospect Drake Baldwin the chance to start the season as the starting catcher.

Murphy, 30, was an All-Star in 2023 but struggled last season after an abdominal strain on opening day and batted .193 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs in 72 games. He played his first four MLB seasons with the A’s (2019-22).

The Braves declined Travis d’Arnaud’s $8 million option during the offseason, clearing the path for Murphy to be the No. 1 catcher. D’Arnaud signed with the Angels.

Chadwick Tromp, a former Giant, is the only other catcher on the Atlanta 40-man roster. He hit .250 in 19 games in 2024. Veterans Sandy León and Curt Casali are in camp as non-roster invitees.

YANKEES’ GIL SHUT DOWN WITH LAT STRAIN >> New York Yankees right-hander Luis Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, will start the season on the injured list because of a high-grade lat strain in his pitching shoulder that will prevent him from throwing for at least six weeks.

Manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees hope Gil will return this season.

“They still have to examine him and make sure other opinions and everything weigh in but right now it looks like a six-week no throw,” he said.

Gil, 26, cut short a bullpen session Friday. He was 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts last year, striking out 171 in 151 2/3 innings.

ASTROS’ ALTUVE WILL BE REGULAR IN LEFT >> The Houston Astros are planning to play Jose Altuve mostly in left field this season, manager Joe Espada told the Houston Chronicle.

A nine-time All-Star, three-time batting champion and the 2017 AL MVP, Altuve has played all but two of his 1,767 major league games at second base. He won the Gold Glove in 2015 and in 2020 led the AL with the fewest errors there, with four.

“Right now the plan is for him to play the majority of his games in left field,” Espada said, adding that moving Altuve “back and forth is something that I am going to avoid.”