MLB Player News

Thaiss isn't starting Thursday against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Thaiss started three of the last four games and went 0-for-8 with three walks and five strikeouts over that stretch. Kurt Suzuki will draw the start behind the dish and bat seventh Thursday.

Raleigh (thumb) started and played a full game at catcher in a loss to the Athletics on Wednesday, going 0-for-2 with a walk.

The backstop had missed four of the previous five games with his thumb injury, so his ability to put in a full game Wednesday was an encouraging development. Raleigh has now reached safely in three of his past four appearances, but overall this year it's his power (42 extra-base hits, including 23 home runs) has led to a .465 slugging percentage that's helped offset a forgettable .203 average and .278 OBP.

Diaz isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Giants, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

Diaz is getting a breather after he went 2-for-8 with two strikeouts over the last two games. Brian Serven will start behind the plate and bat ninth.

Sanchez is not in Thursday's lineup against the Royals.

Sanchez is hitting .175 with one home run, 22 strikeouts and three walks in 20 games this month. Caleb Hamilton will start behind the dish and hit ninth Thursday in Kansas City.

Perez went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's win over Minnesota.

Perez tallied an RBI double off starter Bailey Ober to put Kansas City up 2-0 in the first inning. The catcher has been hot at the plate with four multi-hit performances in his last seven games, recording a .690 slugging percentage over 29 at-bats. In addition, the 32-year-old has knocked in a run in six straight games.

Realmuto went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's extra-inning win over the Blue Jays.

Realmuto singled and stole second base in the bottom of the sixth inning before he took Yimi Garcia deep for a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth frame, narrowing the Blue Jays' lead to 3-1. The long ball was his 21st of the season, and the catcher has now gone deep in three straight games and seven times overall in September while recording 18 steals overall on the campaign. Since the beginning of the month, Realmuto has batted .327 with seven homers, 14 RBI, nine runs and a stolen base over 16 contests.

Maldonado went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's victory over Tampa Bay.

Maldonado ripped two singles prior to going deep for a solo shot off Dusten Knight in the top of the ninth inning. The homer was his 14th of the year and second in his last three games. Maldonado has gone 9-for-22 with two home runs, six RBI and seven runs over his last six games.

Fortes went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double in Wednesday's loss to the Cubs.

Fortes crushed a two-run homer off Marcus Stroman in the bottom of the fifth inning, delivering the Marlins a 2-0 lead. He later added a double, producing his second straight multi-hit performance. The home run was the catcher's eighth of the season and first since Aug. 24. Fortes has notched at least one hit in seven out of his last nine games, batting .306 with a home run, four RBI and seven runs scored over that stretch.

Plawecki signed a major-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old was released by the Red Sox earlier this week, and it didn't take long for him to latch on with a new team. Jonah Heim has worked as Texas' primary catcher with Mitch Garver (forearm) out for the year, and Plawecki will now enter the mix as a veteran option.

Bart isn't starting Wednesday against the Rockies.

Bart will get a day off after going 1-for-3 and scoring three runs Tuesday in Colorado. Austin Wynns will take his spot behind home plate and bat ninth.