MLB Player News

Stubbs was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Stubbs is set to serve as the backup catcher Friday evening after the Astros announced that Robinson Chirinos is unavailable due to shoulder soreness. Stubbs has appeared in eight games this season for Houston and is 4-for-25 with two RBI and a stolen base over that brief stretch.

Manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Sanchez (groin) is "very close to being an option," Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Sanchez has been going through fielding and catching drills and will do some on-field running Saturday. According to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic, the 26-year-old said he has no pain or discomfort and also caught a bullpen session. A return sometime next week appears to be a possibility for the Yankees' catcher.

Narvaez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Navaez will head to the bench for the third time in the last four games despite having a .934 OPS since the start of July. Tom Murphy grabs another start behind the plate in his absence.

Vazquez (knee) is starting at catcher and batting eighth Friday versus the Yankees, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Vazquez was held out of Thursday's starting nine due to a bruised knee, but he's good to go after a day of rest. The 28-year-old has a .508 OPS in his last 17 games and will look to break out of the funk against New York.

Thaiss remains on the bench Friday against Cleveland.

Thaiss owns a .244/.306/.600 slash line with five homers in his first 15 career games. He'll sit for the second straight game Friday, with David Fletcher at third base and Luis Rengifo at second.

Zavala was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

Zavala made his major-league debut in late May and went 1-for-9 during his three-game stint in the big leagues. The 25-year-old will serve as the reserve backstop to James McCann with Welington Castillo headed to the bereavement list.

Maldonado started Thursday and went 1-for-5 with a run scored in a 7-1 win over the Indians.

Maldonado, who made his first start since the Astros acquired him, is expected to be the second catcher behind Robinson Chirinos. Per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, Astros manager AJ Hinch confirmed Chirinos will catch the majority of games.

Jansen went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run in a win against Baltimore on Thursday.

Jansen had gone 19 games without a long ball before walloping a 430-foot homer to left field in the sixth inning. He also contributed a pair of singles to notch his first multi-hit game in over two weeks. Despite the recent struggles, Jansen has remained Toronto's primary option behind the plate, slashing .211/.282/.361 with nine home runs and 35 runs batted in over 295 plate appearances this season.

Vazquez is not in the lineup Thursday due to a bruised knee, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Vazquez apparently took a pitch off his knee Wednesday and will miss at least one game as a result. Sandy Leon is starting behind the dish and hitting ninth in his place.

D'Arnaud is not starting Thursday against the Red Sox.

D'Arnaud is slashing .333/.412/.733 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 15 games since the All-Star break. He'll give way to Mike Zunino behind the dish for Thursday's series finale.