MLB Player News

Stassi isn't starting Friday's game against the Mariners, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Stassi returned to the field Wednesday and went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts. Kurt Suzuki will start behind the plate and bat ninth.

Jansen is not in the lineup Friday against the Braves.

The 26-year-old remains hitless in 33 at-bats over his past 12 appearances and will head to the bench Friday. Alejandro Kirk will start behind the plate and has hits in each of his past three games, so he could displace Jansen atop the depth chart.

Trevino will not start Friday against Boston.

The catcher receives an off day after homering in a solid performance Thursday. Trevino has recorded hits in consecutive games after going hitless in his previous five.

Garver is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals.

The 30-year-old will take a seat after starting the past two games with Ben Rortvedt called up to make his major-league debut Friday. Garver has a chance to secure his starting spot following the demotion of Ryan Jeffers, but Rortvedt should receive some opportunities if Garver's offensive struggles persist.

Rortvedt was recalled from the alternate training site Friday and is starting behind the plate against the Royals, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.

The 23-year-old will take the place of Ryan Jeffers, who was demoted to the alternate site after a slow start to the season. Despite starting Friday, Rortvedt should work as Minnesota's secondary catcher, but he could see some starts against right-handed pitching, especially if starter Mitch Garver continues to struggle at the plate.

Mejia is not in the lineup Friday against the Astros, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

The 25-year-old and Mike Zunino have alternated starts over the past week, and Mejia will take a seat after going 1-for-4 with a double during Thursday's series finale against the A's.

Garver is entrenched as Minnesota's starting catcher after Ryan Jeffers was optioned to the alternate site Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

The 30-year-old has been splitting time with Jeffers throughout the first month of the season, but the veteran will receive the bulk of the starts going forward with the rookie demoted. Garver has a .172/.213/.431 slash line with four home runs, nine RBI, six runs and a 44.3 percent strikeout rate through 18 games, so he may need to improve at the plate to maintain the starting job for the rest of the season. Willians Astudillo will take over the backup job at catcher for the Twins.

Jeffers was optioned to the alternate training site Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old split work behind the plate with Mitch Garver to open the season, but Garver started three of the past four contests and is now locked into the starting role. Jeffers provides better defense but struggled offensively, going 5-for-34 with one double, one RBI, three runs and a 3:18 K:BB in 11 appearances before the demotion. Willians Astudillo will now operate as the secondary backstop for the Twins.

Trevino went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in Thursday's 4-1 win over Boston.

Trevino's sixth-inning bomb -- his first of the season -- gave the Rangers a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Prior to Thursday's action, Trevino was in the midst of a 1-for-21, slump although his average is still a respectable .265.

Grandal isn't starting Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers.

Grandal was initially slated to sit out Wednesday's contest before it was rained out, but he'll take a seat for Thursday's matinee instead. Zack Collins will start behind the dish and bat seventh.