MLB Player News

Garver went 1-for-5 with a solo home run Wednesday in a loss to the Brewers.

Garver delivered a leadoff home run against Gio Gonzalez, his 23rd homer of the season. The Twins have found ways to work Garver into the lineup consistently, as Wednesday marked his fourth consecutive start and fifth in the past eight contests. While he has just seven hits in his last 31 at-bats, he's smacked four homers in that span. Overall, he's recorded a .266/.346/.614 line across 263 plate appearances for the season.

Sanchez went 3-for-3 with a three-run home run, a walk and two runs overall in a 6-5 victory against the Orioles on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old was 1-for-11 (.091) in his first three games after coming off the IL, but in the final two games of the series against the Orioles, Sanchez went 5-for-7 (.714) with a double and homer. He has two home runs since returning from his groin injury on Aug. 10. Sanchez is batting .235 with 26 home runs, 63 RBI and 46 runs in 315 at-bats this season.

Stassi is not in the lineup against the Pirates on Wednesday.

Stassi, who has started the last three games, is giving way to Anthony Bemboom versus Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old has looked lost at the plate since joining the Angels at the trade deadline, going 1-for-21 with eight strikeouts.

Bemboom is starting at catcher and batting eighth against the Pirates on Wednesday.

Bemboom will make his first start since being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday. Max Stassi, who has started the last three games at catcher, will get a breather. Bemboom has played in only four games at the major-league level this season, going 3-for-6 with a double and two runs batted in.

Stallings was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Angels due to a migraine, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Elias Diaz will take over for Stallings behind the dish, while Erik Gonzalez will enter the lineup at third base. Stallings will likely be reevaluated during Thursday's off day before the Pirates determine his status for Friday's series opener against the Cubs.

Thaiss is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Pirates.

Thaiss is on the bench in the midst of a 3-for-31 slump with 11 strikeouts over the past 11 games. The infield will shift in Thaiss' absence, with Luis Renigfo starting at second base, batting seventh, and Wilfredo Tovar starting at shortstop, batting ninth.

Smith is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Marlins.

Smith will head to the bench Wednesday with the Dodgers playing a night game before Thursday's afternoon contest. In his place, Russell Martin is starting behind the dish and hitting eighth.

Gomes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.

Gomes was already starting to fall below Kurt Suzuki on the depth chart at catcher toward the end of July and hasn't done much to improve his fortunes. While appearing in five games thus far in August, Gomes has gone 1-for-16 with five strikeouts. Kurt Suzuki will handle catching duties Wednesday for the third time in four contests.

Garver will start at catcher and bat leadoff Wednesday against the Brewers.

Garver will stick atop the lineup with the Brewers bringing a lefty (Gio Gonzalez) to the hill, but the backstop may have supplanted Jason Castro as the Twins' preferred catcher versus right-handed pitching, too. Manager Rocco Baldelli deployed Garver behind the plate in each of the Twins' prior three matchups with righties, during which the 28-year-old went 2-for-12 with a home run and a double.

Perez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Perez will just be receiving a routine maintenance day with the Indians and Red Sox wrapping up their series with an afternoon contest. No. 2 catcher Kevin Plawecki checks in behind the plate Wednesday.