MLB Player News

Maldonado isn't starting Thursday's game against Seattle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Maldonado has gone hitless with a walk and two strikeouts in nine at-bats across the last three games. Jason Castro will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Vazquez went 1-for-3 with an RBI double in Wednesday's 1-0 win over the Mets.

In an old-fashioned pitching duel, Vazquez's run-producing double in the fourth inning was the game's only offense. Though he entered Wednesday's game with no extra-base hits and a .143 average (7-for-49) over a span of 13 games, Vazquez drove a Jacob deGrom fastball the opposite way to score Xander Bogaerts. He's now hit safely in three of his last four games.

Perez went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Pirates.

Perez extended his hitting streak to three games, but he drove in a run and recorded his first multi-hit performance since April 21. The star catcher is hitting .266 with five homers and 13 RBI across 23 games this season.

Hedges has gone 2-for-20 (.100) in his first seven games.

Hedges hasn't seen much playing time as a backup to Roberto Perez. The 28-year-old Hedges has one home run, two RBI and two runs scored this season. He's also struck out in nine of his 23 plate appearances. Perez is a solid defensive backstop whose consistent presence in the lineup leaves Hedges with little opportunity to make an impact.

Bemboom was optioned to the alternate training site Wednesday.

He was serving as the backup catcher while Max Stassi was on the injured list, but with Stassi's activation Wednesday, Bemboom will return to the minors.

Stassi (thumb) was activated from the 10-day injured list and is starting at catcher and batting ninth Wednesday against the Rangers.

Stassi hit .375 with one home run in 16 at-bats prior to landing on the IL. He should once again assume a fairly even playing time split with Kurt Suzuki. Anthony Bemboom was sent back down in a corresponding move.

Grandal is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Tigers.

It's been a rough stretch for Grandal at the plate, as he is hitting .059 with one home run over his last 11 games, albeit with more walks (eight) than strikeouts (seven) over that stretch. He will be back in the lineup Thursday, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com.

Garver had two home runs and three RBI during Wednesday's 10-2 win against Cleveland.

The 30-year-old was 0-for-14 with nine strikeouts over his previous five appearances, but he busted out with a solo and two-run homer during Wednesday's blowout victory. Garver has a .172/.213/.431 slash line with four home runs, nine RBI and six runs in 18 games this season, and he figures to continue splitting time behind the plate with Ryan Jeffers, as both catchers are struggling offensively.

Trevino is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.

Jonah Heim will enter the lineup as a replacement for Trevino, who caught the first two games of the series. Trevino still appears to have a lock on the No. 1 catching job, despite poor results at the plate of late. Over his last five games, Trevino has gone 1-for-21 with six strikeouts.

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

Sanchez will take a seat for the second straight game, one day after manager Aaron Boone suggested that the struggling backstop would likely lose work to Kyle Higashioka. While stepping into the lineup for Sanchez in Tuesday's 5-1 win, Higashioka further solidified his case for earning more work by going 2-for-4 with a solo home run. With Sanchez's playing time likely headed for a downturn at least in the short term, fantasy managers in leagues that start one catcher are probably justified in cutting him.