MLB Player News

Garver isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Royals, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Garver will take a seat for the second straight day. As a result, Jason Castro gets the call behind the plate and is set to bat eighth.

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.

Barnhart is not in the lineup for Friday's game in Atlanta.

Barnhart started four of the last five games but will make way for Kyle Farmer behind the plate Friday. The 28-year-old is 6-for-15 with one double and three RBI in five games since returning from the injured 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.

Realmuto went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and three runs in a 10-2 victory against the Giants on Thursday.

The 28-year-old has rediscovered his power stroke, as he's hit four home runs in his last seven games. Realmuto also has two doubles along with 10 RBI during that stretch, and because of this recent surge, he's closing in on topping last season's career high of 21 homers. He is batting .274 with 15 home runs, 55 RBI, 65 runs and four steals in 372 at-bats this season.