MLB Player News

Vazquez will sit Saturday against the Yankees.

Vazquez sits after starting three straight games behind the plate. He's been in good form thus far in September, hitting .315/.351/.463 in 16 games. Kevin Plawecki will spell him behind the plate.

Stassi went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Mariners.

Stassi slammed a two-run home run off Logan Gilbert in the fourth inning to put the Angels on the board. In addition, he drove in Jack Mayfield on a sixth-inning single. It was Stassi's first long ball since Aug. 19, and since that date he's batting .174. On the season, the catcher is slashing .251/.334/.434 with 12 home runs, 33 RBI and 43 runs scored in 302 plate appearances.

Kirk will serve as the designated hitter Friday against the Twins.

Kirk sat the past two games in favor of Reese McGuire and Danny Jansen but he will return to the lineup as the DH on Friday. He is hitless across his last 13 at-bats dating back to Sept. 21.

Garver will sit Friday against Toronto.

Garver has started every other game since returning from a lower-back strain Tuesday. Ryan Jeffers will take over behind the plate Friday.

Grandal will sit Friday against Cleveland.

Grandal started both halves of Thursday's doubleheader, serving as the designated hitter in the nightcap after starting behind the plate in the afternoon contest. He'll get a well-deserved rest Friday, with Zack Collins making another start behind the plate.

Sanchez is not in the lineup Friday against the Red Sox.

Sanchez didn't start Wednesday's series finale against the Rangers -- though he did his a two-run homer as a pinch hitter -- and finds himself on the bench for the second straight contest. Kyle Higashioka will catch for Gerrit Cole in Friday's series opener.

Murphy went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Mariners.

Murphy has lost considerable playing time in the last month, with Yan Gomes taking over as the team's primary catcher. However, he started both Wednesday and Thursday's contests, collecting three hits in seven at-bats. He delivered his 17th home run of the season Thursday, and he now has three home runs across his last 13 starts. Despite his recent display of power it's been a disappointing season for Murphy, as he's managed only a .217/.306/.413 line across 431 plate appearances.

Raleigh went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Athletics.

Raleigh took James Kaprielian yard in the fifth inning to record the second home run of his career. He drew a start for the first time in three games, with Tom Murphy remaining the team's primary catcher. Across the first 138 plate appearances of his MLB career, Raleigh is hitting .177.217/.308 while striking out at a 36.2 percent clip.

Stassi is not in the lineup Thursday against the Astros.

Stassi has started each of the Angels' last two games, during which he's collected one hit and one walk across eight plate appearances. Kurt Suzuki will take over behind the dish and hit seventh in Stassi's place.

Kirk is out of the lineup again Thursday.

The catcher will sit for the second consecutive contest. Over his last 11 games, Kirk has batted .094 with only one home run and two RBI in 32 at-bats. Danny Jansen will start behind the plate and bat ninth.