MLB Player News

Grandal will sit Friday against Cleveland.

Grandal has handled a heavy workload for a backstop so far this season, as Friday will be just his third time out of the lineup in the team's 14 games. He's been used three times as a designated hitter, which keeps him in the lineup while resting his legs. James McCann takes over behind the plate Friday, while Zack Collins serves as the DH.

Sanchez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a loss to Philadelphia on Thursday.

Sanchez's availability was questionable heading into the game after he was plunked on the elbow by a pitch Wednesday, but the 27-year-old started behind the plate and cranked his first long ball of the season with a two-run shot to right field in the seventh inning. It may be premature to announce that Sanchez is out of his slump, however, as the backstop struck out two more times Thursday to bring his total to 18 in 29 at-bats on the season.

Stassi went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Thursday's win over Seattle.

Stassi plated the Angels' fourth run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and provided a pair of insurance runs with a homer to left field in the eighth. The long ball was the fourth of the season for Stassi, tied for first among major-league catchers. The 29-year-old is already halfway to his career-high total of eight homers established in 2018.

Jansen is not starting Thursday against the Braves.

Jansen has started all but two games behind the dish this season and is hitting .182 (4-for-22) with a home run and 5:7 BB:K. Reese McGuire is starting at catcher and hitting ninth in this one.

Sanchez (elbow) is starting at catcher and hitting eighth Thursday against the Phillies.

Sanchez won't be forced to miss any time after getting hit by a pitch on his elbow Wednesday. The backstop is looking to turn things around following a slow start to the season (2-for-27 with 16 strikeouts through nine appearances).

Stassi went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in a loss to Seattle on Wednesday.

Stassi provided the first run of the game with a 425-foot blast to center field in the third inning. The backstop has been a surprising source of power for the Angels this season, collecting three homers and six RBI in 18 at-bats. By comparison, Stassi hit only one long ball in 132 at-bats between the Astros and Angels in 2019.

Leon is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Reds.

Leon will head to the bench after starting three straight games behind the dish, going 0-for-8 with a 2:4 BB:K in the process. Beau Taylor is starting at backstop in this one.

Thaiss was optioned to the team's alternate camp site Thursday.

Thaiss has appeared in five games for the Angels this season (starting three), going 2-for-10 with a pair of runs scored. He'll move to Los Angeles' satellite camp with the team shaving its roster size down to 28.

Nola is not starting Thursday against the Angels.

Nola will head to the bench for Thursday's matinee contest after playing all nine innings during Wednesday night's win, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run scored in the process. Joe Hudson is starting behind the dish in Thursday's series finale.

The Rangers optioned Trevino to their alternate training site Thursday.

Robinson Chirinos is locked in as the Rangers' No. 1 catcher and the team values veteran Jeff Mathis' skills as a pitch framer and game caller, so Trevino predictably found himself on the chopping block with Texas needing to reduce its roster from 30 to 28 men ahead of Thursday's deadline. Trevino only appeared in two of the Rangers' first 10 games, going 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.