MLB Player News

Rogers is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners.

Rogers is just getting some maintenance for the afternoon contest after logging all nine innings behind the dish and going 0-for-3 with a walk in Wednesday's 3-2 win. Backup John Hicks will handle catching duties in the series finale.

Nola will start at first base and bat fifth Thursday against the Tigers, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Dee Gordon's recent return from the 10-day injured list has resulted in Nola surrendering his everyday role at second base, but the latter's versatility has allowed him to maintain a regular lineup spot while shifting around the infield and outfield. Nola may not necessarily have much leash as a full-time player in light of his recent slump, however. Through nine starts in August, Nola has gone 4-for-31 and has reached base at a .182 clip.

McCann went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and two runs scored overall Wednesday against the Astros.

McCann delivered the game-winning homer for the White Sox, breaking a 9-9 tie in the eighth inning. It was his 13th homer of the season, but his first since July 22. He's found other ways to be productive, however, as he has five multi-hit efforts in his past eight games. Overall, McCann is hitting .288/.342/.464 across 358 plate appearances this season.

Garver went 1-for-5 with a solo home run Wednesday in a loss to the Brewers.

Garver delivered a leadoff home run against Gio Gonzalez, his 23rd homer of the season. The Twins have found ways to work Garver into the lineup consistently, as Wednesday marked his fourth consecutive start and fifth in the past eight contests. While he has just seven hits in his last 31 at-bats, he's smacked four homers in that span. Overall, he's recorded a .266/.346/.614 line across 263 plate appearances for the season.

Sanchez went 3-for-3 with a three-run home run, a walk and two runs overall in a 6-5 victory against the Orioles on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old was 1-for-11 (.091) in his first three games after coming off the IL, but in the final two games of the series against the Orioles, Sanchez went 5-for-7 (.714) with a double and homer. He has two home runs since returning from his groin injury on Aug. 10. Sanchez is batting .235 with 26 home runs, 63 RBI and 46 runs in 315 at-bats this season.

Stassi is not in the lineup against the Pirates on Wednesday.

Stassi, who has started the last three games, is giving way to Anthony Bemboom versus Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old has looked lost at the plate since joining the Angels at the trade deadline, going 1-for-21 with eight strikeouts.

Bemboom is starting at catcher and batting eighth against the Pirates on Wednesday.

Bemboom will make his first start since being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday. Max Stassi, who has started the last three games at catcher, will get a breather. Bemboom has played in only four games at the major-league level this season, going 3-for-6 with a double and two runs batted in.

Thaiss is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Pirates.

Thaiss is on the bench in the midst of a 3-for-31 slump with 11 strikeouts over the past 11 games. The infield will shift in Thaiss' absence, with Luis Renigfo starting at second base, batting seventh, and Wilfredo Tovar starting at shortstop, batting ninth.

Garver will start at catcher and bat leadoff Wednesday against the Brewers.

Garver will stick atop the lineup with the Brewers bringing a lefty (Gio Gonzalez) to the hill, but the backstop may have supplanted Jason Castro as the Twins' preferred catcher versus right-handed pitching, too. Manager Rocco Baldelli deployed Garver behind the plate in each of the Twins' prior three matchups with righties, during which the 28-year-old went 2-for-12 with a home run and a double.

Perez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Perez will just be receiving a routine maintenance day with the Indians and Red Sox wrapping up their series with an afternoon contest. No. 2 catcher Kevin Plawecki checks in behind the plate Wednesday.