MLB Player News

Stassi isn't starting Monday's game against the Astros.

Stassi went 1-for-2 with two walks in Sunday's win over the White Sox, but he'll take a seat for Monday's series opener against Houston. Kurt Suzuki will start behind the dish, batting eighth.

Jeffers will start at catcher and bat eighth Monday against the Tigers.

Jeffers will be behind the plate for the second time in four games to begin the season while Mitch Garver rests. The fact that Monday's series opener is a day game is likely the main reason that Garver is sitting, as the Twins aren't expected to have an even split of the catching starts throughout the season. Jeffers shouldn't be counted on to make more than two starts in most six- or seven-game weeks.

Garver is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.

The Twins are facing a quick turnaround from the weekend with Monday's game beginning at 1:10 p.m. ET, so Garver will be receiving a routine breather after he caught nine innings in Sunday's 8-2 win over the Brewers. Ryan Jeffers picks up a start behind the dish Monday.

Vazquez went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's 11-3 loss to the Orioles.

Vazquez and J.D. Martinez accounted for five of Boston's six hits in the final game of a bad opening series for the Red Sox. He was back in the lineup Sunday following a rest day Saturday and is expected to play Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with Kevin Plawecki starting Wednesday's day game after a night game, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com.

McGuire cleared waivers and was assigned to the alternate training site Sunday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

There had been a lot of handwringing over the Jays potentially losing McGuire if he didn't make the team, as he was out of options, but he stays put. He should serve as the third catcher on the depth chart this season.

Hedges went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Sunday's victory over the Tigers.

The right-handed hitter smashed a solo shot in the ninth inning off Tyler Alexander. The 28-year-old slashed .145/.231/.290 in 2020 and looks to turn his hitting around in 2021.

Garver went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 8-2 win over the Brewers.

Garver had a brutal Opening Day -- 0-for-5, three strikeouts -- but he put together a much better stat line in his second game of the year. He restored the Twins' lead at 2-1 with his fifth-inning solo shot. The catcher had just two homers, five RBI and eight runs scored in 23 games in 2020, so he's looking to rebound this year. Garver's split of the playing time with Ryan Jeffers has yet to be determined, thus the former will need to hit well to earn his spot in the lineup.

Perez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Rangers.

Perez got the Royals on the board with his big fly in the sixth inning, which was all the scoring they mustered against Rangers starter Jordan Lyles. The 30-year-old Perez had been mostly quiet while the Royals racked up 25 runs over their first two games. The catcher has collected four runs and two RBI in three games, and he figures to see most of the work behind the dish after signing a four-year, $82 million contract extension March 21.

Heim went 1-for-3 with a stolen base, a double, a walk and a run scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Royals.

Heim drew a walk in the fourth inning and stole second base as part of a double-steal with Brock Holt. They both came around to score on Isiah Kiner-Falefa's two-run single. The 25-year-old Heim is expected to be limited to the backup catcher role behind usual starter Jose Trevino. Heim had a modest .211/.268/.211 slash line with five RBI and five runs scored across 41 plate appearances for the Athletics in 2020.

Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Jason Castro will pick up his first start of the season while Maldonado heads to the bench after catching each of the last three days. Though the Astros put up 26 runs in the first three games of the series, Maldonado didn't get in on the act, going just 1-for-13 with six strikeouts over that stretch.