MLB Player News

Stassi recently underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.

The 29-year-old had a strong 2020 campaign with a .278/.352/533 slash line and seven homers in 31 games, and it wasn't known he was dealing with the injury until undergoing an MRI at the close of the season. The typical return game is 4-to-6 months, so if his recovery timeline goes on the long end of that spectrum, he may not be ready for the start of the 2021 season.

Maldonado is "banged up" according to manager Dusty Baker but could still appear off the bench Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Maldonado will sit in favor of Dustin Garneau on Tuesday for the first time this postseason, though his absence was apparently a coach's decision and not related to his minor injuries. Expect him back as soon as Game 4 on Wednesday if not before.

Maldonado is not starting Game 3 of the ALCS against the Rays on Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Maldonado has started every playoff game thus far for the Astros this season, hitting just .154/.214/.308. Dustin Garneau will catch Jose Urquidy in his absence.

Sanchez will sit for Game 4 of the ALDS against the Rays on Thursday.

It's been quite a fall from grace for the catcher, who sits in favor of Kyle Higashioka for the third time this series. It's not hard to see why the Yankees don't want Sanchez in the lineup in an elimination game, as he's gone 1-for-8 with four strikeouts this postseason after hitting a miserable .147/.253/.365 during the regular season.

Sanchez isn't in the lineup for Game 3 of the ALDS against the Rays on Wednesday.

Sanchez went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts during Game 2 on Tuesday, and he'll get a breather for the third game of the series. Kyle Higashioka will take over behind the plate.

Perez was removed from Wednesday's Game 2 against the Yankees with a right wrist contusion, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Perez went 2-for-3 with one RBI and was also hit by a pitch before exiting the contest. The severity of the injury remains unclear, so the 31-year-old should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status.

Kirk is out of the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the Blue Jays' wild-card series with the Rays.

With Vladimir Guerrero serving as the team's designated hitter Wednesday and Danny Jansen starting behind the plate, Kirk will be squeezed out of the lineup. The rookie was the DH in Tuesday's 3-1 loss, going 1-for-3 with a base hit.

Jeffers is starting at catcher and batting ninth in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Astros.

It seems the rookie backstop is atop the Twins' depth chart, as he will draw his second straight start of these playoffs. Jeffers went 0-for-2 in Game 1 before being replaced by Mitch Garver.

The Astros recalled Stubbs from their alternate training site Tuesday ahead of the team's wild-card opener against the Twins.

Stubbs will serve as Houston's third catcher during the postseason, providing depth behind Martin Maldonado and Dustin Garneau. The 27-year-old appeared in 14 games during the regular season, going 1-for-8 at the dish.

Garver is not in the lineup for the first game of the AL Wild Card Round against the Astros on Tuesday.

Garver finished the year with a very disappointing .167/.247/.264 slash line in 23 games. Ryan Jeffers will start behind the plate, catching Kenta Maeda.