MLB Player News

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.

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.

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.

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.

Raleigh (thumb) is starting behind the plate and batting sixth Wednesday against the A's.

Raleigh sat out four of the past five games due to the lingering thumb issue but will rejoin the lineup for Wednesday's matchup in Oakland. The 25-year-old is 2-for-19 with two walks, a run and 10 strikeouts in his past six contests.

Thaiss will start at catcher and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

He's behind the plate for the third time in four games and appears to have settled in as the Angels' preferred option at catcher ahead of the struggling Max Stassi, who is hitting .109 with a 31.8 percent strikeout rate since the beginning of August. Thaiss hasn't dazzled since being called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Aug. 25, but his .233/.306/.372 slash line in 17 games over the past month is a marked improvement from what Stassi has provided the Angels.

Stassi isn't starting Wednesday against the Rangers.

Stassi went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts Tuesday and will head to the bench for the third time in the last four games. Matt Thaiss will take over behind the plate and bat sixth.

Haase is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

Haase and Tucker Barnhart have both picked up three starts apiece at catcher over the past six games, and the timeshare arrangement between the two could be in place for the remainder of the season. The Tigers have occasionally deployed Haase at designated hitter on his non-catching days, but Miguel Cabrera's recent return from the injured list could close the door on Haase picking up occasional starts at DH.

Heim isn't starting Wednesday against the Angels.

Heim went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts during Tuesday's series opener against the Angels and will head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Sam Huff is starting at catcher and batting seventh.