MLB Player News

Garver was out of the lineup Thursday after experiencing tightness in his back, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Garver has sat five of the team's last seven games, so it's not clear just how long the injury has been bothering him. The issue doesn't seem likely to send Garver to the injured list, and he could be in for a return to regular playing time as Ryan Jeffers battles a heel injury.

Garver isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against Boston.

The 30-year-old will be on the bench for the fifth time in the last seven games as Ryan Jeffers will start behind the plate and bat seventh. Across his last seven appearances, Garver has gone 8-for-20 with three doubles, three runs and an RBI.

Stassi isn't starting Thursday against the Orioles.

Stassi recorded extra-base hits in each of his last two appearances, and he went 3-for-8 with two doubles, three runs and an RBI during that time. He'll get a breather while Kurt Suzuki starts behind the plate and bats fifth.

Hedges went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Rangers.

He launched one of Cleveland's three solo shots off Jake Latz in the Texas southpaw's big-league debut. Hedges has started 12 of 19 games since Roberto Perez (shoulder) got hurt but has been his usual unproductive self during that time with a .225/.273/.375 slash line, and Wednesday's homer was his first in August and only his sixth of the season.

Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Wednesday in an extra-inning victory versus the Royals.

The backstop produced the first run of the game with a solo shot to left field in the third inning. The homer was his 10th of the season, marking the third time in his career he has reached double digits in that category during a campaign. Maldonado has otherwise struggled in 2021, however, batting a paltry .190 with 100 strikeouts across 291 at-bats.

Perez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in a loss to the Astros on Wednesday.

The catcher got the Royals on the board in the fourth inning with a solo shot to left field. The long ball was his fourth in his past six games, and all but one of his hits over that span have left the yard. Perez is up to a career-high 34 homers this season, tied for third in MLB.

Mejia went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run Wednesday against the Phillies.

Mejia came to the plate with the game tied at four in the ninth inning and delivered his sixth home run of the season to put the Rays in the lead. Though he gets only sporadic playing time, Mejia has at least one hit in eight of his last 10 appearances, including two doubles, one home run, eight RBI and six runs scored. For the season, he a .267/.326/.446 line across 222 plate appearances.

Wynns went 0-for-2 in Wednesday's 10-6 win over Baltimore.

Wynns has appeared in 10 games in August, going 6-for-30 (.200) with two doubles, one RBI and one runs scored this month. The catcher is slashing only .174/.216/.283 through 98 plate appearances this year. He'll remain in a backup role behind Pedro Severino -- playing time will probably be hard to come by down the stretch for Wynns.

Trevino will start at catcher and bat ninth Wednesday in Cleveland.

With Jonah Heim recently moving to the COVID-19 injured list, Trevino has temporarily reclaimed the No. 1 catcher job. He'll be behind the plate Wednesday for the fourth game in a row.

Manager Tony La Russa said Wednesday that Grandal's (knee) return is "imminent," Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

La Russa previously ruled Grandal out for the team's current road trip in Toronto, but it appears as though the catcher will be back in action in the coming days. The 32-year-old has made nine rehab appearances between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, and he's slashed .321/.394/.464 with a home run, a double, four runs and three RBI.