MLB Player News

Diaz will start at catcher and bat eighth against the Phillies on Friday.

He has just five hits in his last 36 at-bats since June 28, good for a .139 batting average. Perhaps more importantly, Diaz has started only seven of 12 games in July as Jacob Stallings has become the personal catcher to both Chris Archer and Joe Musgrove. Diaz is 0-for-4 lifetime with three strikeouts against Friday's starter, Jake Arrieta.

Chu (oblique) was placed on the 7-day IL at Double-A Akron with a left oblique strain.

This will leave Logan Ice to handle the full-time catching duties while Chu recovers. Prior to the injury, the two backstops were spending relatively equal time behind the plate. In 60 games with Double-A Akron, the 25-year-old Chu is slashing .229/.290/.327 with five home runs and 25 RBI across 210 plate appearances.

Trevino (quadriceps) is 7-for-21 with a double and a home run for Triple-A Nashville since being activated off the 7-day injured list last week.

Trevino landed on the IL in mid-May with a quad issue and had an 11-game rehab assignment with the AZL Rangers before returning to Triple-A. The 26-year-old has a .256/.300/.372 slash line in 33 games for the Sounds this season.

Contreras (foot) is slated for baseball activity Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Contreras is recovering from a strain of the arch muscle in his right foot that landed him on the 10-day injured list July 14 and created roster space for the addition of Martin Maldonado. Maldonado and Victor Caratini will continue handling the catching duties in his absence. The 27-year-old Contreras featured a .304/.407/.652 slash line with two home runs, seven RBI and five runs scored in 23 at-bats across six July starts.

Caratini will be on the bench Friday against the Padres.

Caratini and Martin Maldonado are splitting time in the absence of Willson Contreras (foot). Maldonado gets the nod Friday for the second time in three games.

Garver went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a win versus Oakland on Thursday.

With the Twins up by one run after seven innings, Garver provided a bit of insurance by launching a 426-foot blast to center field leading off the eighth. The home run was his fourth in only 31 at-bats in July and 16th overall in 172 at-bats this season. In comparison, he slugged only seven long balls in 302 at-bats last year.

Sanchez isn't in the starting lineup for Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Rays.

Sanchez will head to the bench after going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Game 1. Austin Romine is set to handle the catching duties and bat ninth.

Thaiss isn't in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros.

Thaiss drew a start Wednesday, but he was unable to collect a base knock (0-for-4). He'll head to the bench with a lefty on the hill for Houston in the series finale. David Fletcher will start at third base and lead off with Thaiss riding the pine.

Gomes is not in the lineup Thursday against the Braves.

Gomes has started three of the past four games behind the dish, going 0-for-8 with a walk, a stolen base and four strikeouts in those contests. Kurt Suzuki is starting at catcher and hitting sixth in this one.

Casali (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

This was expected. The move is retroactive to Tuesday, so Casali will be eligible to return July 26 should he prove ready. Ryan Lavarnway was signed to a big-league contract in a corresponding roster move and should share catching duties with Juan Graterol until one of Casali, Tucker Barnhart (oblique) or Kyle Farmer (concussion) returns from the injured list.