MLB Player News

Sanchez (legs) is available to pinch hit Wednesday against the Astros, Coley Harvey of ESPN.com reports.

Sanchez has been dealing with some tightness in his leg recently, which explains why he was limited to DH duties Tuesday and left out of the lineup altogether Wednesday. The backstop didn't seem too worried about the issue -- a notion confirmed by his availability off the bench -- and said he expects to return to the lineup Friday against the White Sox, per Meredith Marakovits of YES Network. In the meantime, Austin Romine is starting at backstop and hitting eighth.

Sanchez is not in the lineup Wednesday against Houston.

Sanchez was the designated hitter in Tuesday's game due to unspecified tightness, James Wagner of The New York Times reports. It's unclear whether that's the cause of his absence Wednesday or if he's simply due for a routine day off. With no game Thursday and seemingly no serious injury worries, Sanchez should be considered likely return to the lineup Friday against the White Sox.

Maldonado is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Mariners.

Maldonado will head to the bench for Wednesday's night game with an afternoon contest on the docket Thursday. The backstop, who is 6-for-31 (.194) through nine games this season, will give way to Cameron Gallagher behind the dish in this one.

Garver went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two solo home runs in Tuesday's 14-8 win over the Mets.

Garver hit a pair of long home runs off Jacob deGrom during the second and third innings as the Twins roughed up the reigning NL Cy Young winner for six runs. The 28-year-old had only seven home runs in 335 plate appearances last season, making Tuesday's power surge all the more unexpected. Garver is likely to continue splitting time behind the plate with Jason Castro and Willians Astudillo. The Twins have yet to start the same catcher in consecutive games.

Perez went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in the fifth inning of the Indians' 8-2 win over the Tigers on Tuesday.

Perez hit his first home run off Jordan Zimmermann to increase the Cleveland lead to 4-1. The 30-year-old is batting just .095 in 2019, and this was his first home run since Sept. 8 of last year. He is splitting the catching duties with Kevin Plawecki this season.

Maile isn't available to start Tuesday against the Red Sox while he battles neck tightness, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Manager Charlie Montoyo had planned to use Maile as part of a battery with pitcher Matt Shoemaker, but the former's injury will result in Danny Jansen stepping in behind the plate. Montoyo expressed optimism that Maile would still be available off the bench if the backstop's neck loosens up over the next few hours.

Sanchez went 3-for-6 with three homers and six RBI in the Yankees' 15-3 win over the Orioles on Sunday.

It was a monster day for the 26-year-old backstop, who posted his first career three-homer game to bring his long ball total up to six on the season through 32 at-bats. Sanchez's struggles last season were well-documented as he hit just .186 over 323 at-bats, but he's got his power stroke working to start 2019 as he looks to bounce back and regain his form of 2017, when he hit .278 and launched 33 homers.

Vazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Vazquez will sit for the second time in the series as Blake Swihart receives another turn behind the plate. Despite the distribution of work this weekend, Vazquez still looks like the Red Sox's clear top option behind the plate, largely on the strength of his superior defense.

Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star

Maldonado is getting his first day off of the season after starting behind the plate in each of the Royals' first seven games. Cam Gallagher will fill in for Maldonado at catcher in the series finale, working in a battery with starting pitcher Brad Keller.

Perez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Perez looks to be receiving a routine rest as the Yankees play their second consecutive day game. Kevin Plawecki checks in behind the plate as the Tribe's No. 6 hitter in the series finale.