MLB Player News

Maldonado went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's victory over Tampa Bay.

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.

Plawecki signed a major-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old was released by the Red Sox earlier this week, and it didn't take long for him to latch on with a new team. Jonah Heim has worked as Texas' primary catcher with Mitch Garver (forearm) out for the year, and Plawecki will now enter the mix as a veteran option.

Raleigh (thumb) is starting behind the plate and batting sixth Wednesday against the A's.

Raleigh sat out four of the past five games due to the lingering thumb issue but will rejoin the lineup for Wednesday's matchup in Oakland. The 25-year-old is 2-for-19 with two walks, a run and 10 strikeouts in his past six contests.

Thaiss will start at catcher and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

He's behind the plate for the third time in four games and appears to have settled in as the Angels' preferred option at catcher ahead of the struggling Max Stassi, who is hitting .109 with a 31.8 percent strikeout rate since the beginning of August. Thaiss hasn't dazzled since being called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Aug. 25, but his .233/.306/.372 slash line in 17 games over the past month is a marked improvement from what Stassi has provided the Angels.

Stassi isn't starting Wednesday against the Rangers.

Stassi went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts Tuesday and will head to the bench for the third time in the last four games. Matt Thaiss will take over behind the plate and bat sixth.

Haase is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

Haase and Tucker Barnhart have both picked up three starts apiece at catcher over the past six games, and the timeshare arrangement between the two could be in place for the remainder of the season. The Tigers have occasionally deployed Haase at designated hitter on his non-catching days, but Miguel Cabrera's recent return from the injured list could close the door on Haase picking up occasional starts at DH.

Heim isn't starting Wednesday against the Angels.

Heim went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts during Tuesday's series opener against the Angels and will head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Sam Huff is starting at catcher and batting seventh.

Jansen isn't starting Wednesday against Philadelphia.

Jansen started the last four games and went 6-for-15 with a home run, three doubles, three RBI, two runs, two walks and six strikeouts. Alejandro Kirk will take over behind the plate and bat cleanup.

Mejia isn't starting Wednesday against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mejia went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts Tuesday and will retreat to the bench for the third time in the last four games. Rene Pinto is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.

Kirk (hip) went 3-for-5 with a walk, two RBI and two runs in Tuesday's 18-11 win over the Phillies.

Kirk didn't miss a beat in his return to the lineup following a one-week absence due to the hip injury. The All-Star backstop served as Toronto's designated hitter Tuesday and could end up seeing the majority of his starts in a non-defensive role to close out the season, as fellow backstop Danny Jansen has swung a hot bat of late to stake his claim to a regular spot in the lineup at catcher.