MLB Player News

Kirk is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

Kirk started the past eight games and will head to the bench after posting a .333/.400/.433 slash line with three doubles and seven RBI during that span. Danny Jansen will take over behind the plate in the series finale at Boston.

Maldonado isn't starting Thursday against the Twins.

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.

Plawecki is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

After making three consecutive starts behind the plate, Plawecki now finds himself on the bench for the second straight contest. The Red Sox's catching situation remains a difficult one to predict from game-to-game, as Plawecki and Reese McGuire appear to be stuck in a true timeshare.

Thaiss was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.

Thaiss will return to the big leagues after being sent down July 2. The 27-year-old has only registered two at-bats with the Angels this season, but he's produced a .269 average with 10 homers, 48 RBI, 46 runs and seven stolen bases over 77 games with Salt Lake. Thaiss will provide depth at either corner-infield spot and give the Angels a third catcher option behind Max Stassi and Kurt Suzuki.

Stassi is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Rays, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Stassi will get a breather after he went 0-for-9 with four strikeouts while starting the last two contests. Kurt Suzuki will replace him behind the plate and bat seventh in the series finale.

Mejia will sit Thursday versus the Angels, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Mejia will take a seat after he went 0-for-4 with a run scored and a strikeout in Wednesday's win. The red-hot Christian Bethancourt will replace him behind the plate and bat sixth in the series finale.

Kirk went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Wednesday's extra-inning victory over the Red Sox.

The All-Star catcher recorded three hits Wednesday after going hitless in his previous two games. The multi-hit effort pushed Kirk's batting average back over .300. Of catchers with at least 200 plate appearances, Kirk is the only one with an average over that mark, with the second being Chrsitian Vazquez at .288, followed by Will Smith at .270. Sporting an elite batting average, double-digit home runs, and solid counting stats hitting in the middle of Toronto's lineup, Kirk has been one of the greatest surprises of the 2022 season.

Maile went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's 7-0 win over San Diego.

Maile tallied an RBI single off lefty starter Blake Snell with one out in the fourth to put Cleveland up 4-0. The catcher has been swinging a hot bat in August with a .394 average and 1.065 OPS over 33 at-bats in 10 games. Furthermore, the 31-year-old has eight RBI during that span and at least one hit in nine of those contests.

Jansen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Jansen has been one of the big losers of the Blue Jays' reluctance to use George Springer in the outfield for the past few weeks while he's contended with elbow and knee injuries. With Springer clogging up the designated hitter spot for the second straight game Wednesday, Alejandro Kirk will serve as the Blue Jays' catcher. Though Jansen is the superior defender behind the plate, Kirk's bat is too potent for the Blue Jays to take him out of the lineup.

Sanchez will sit Wednesday versus the Astros.

Sanchez will take a seat after he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Tuesday's series opener. Sandy Leon will take over behind the plate and bat ninth against Houston.