MLB Player News

Sanchez is not in Friday's lineup against the Blue Jays.

Sanchez hasn't had a multi-hit game since late June and is slashing .155/.231/.225 with one home run over his last 22 games. Sandy Leon is starting behind the dish and hitting ninth.

Kirk is not in Friday's lineup against the Twins.

Kirk is hitless in his last 12 at-bats, which qualifies as a pretty bad slump by his standards. He is slashing .303/.387/.467 with 12 home runs in 351 plate appearances.

Plawecki is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

The 31-year-old has operated as Boston's primary catcher after Christian Vazquez was traded to Houston earlier this week, but Plawecki will take a seat for Friday's contest. Reese McGuire will work behind the plate and bat eighth.

Vazquez is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Guardians.

Vazquez finds himself on the bench for the third time in four games since being acquired by the Astros. The 31-year-old should take over as Houston's primary backstop at some point, but it appears he'll split time with Martin Maldonado for the time being.

McCann will sit Friday against Atlanta.

McCann started in his return from an oblique injury Thursday, going 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts. He won't be asked to start two games in a row right away, with Tomas Nido taking over behind the plate.

Hedges is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.

Hedges started the past two games and will take a seat after going 2-for-5 with two walks and a run scored. Luke Maile will start behind the plate and bat ninth.

Caratini went 1-for-3 with a solo homer in Thursday's loss to the Pirates.

Caratini saw himself elevated to the No. 1 catcher recently after Pedro Severino was designated for assignment and Omar Narvaez (quadriceps) was placed on the 10-day IL. The switch hitter wasted no time taking advantage of the increased role by cracking his eighth home run of the season, this one off Pirates starter Zach Thompson.

Pinto was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 25-year-old was promoted in late July when Francisco Mejia (shoulder) landed on the 10-day IL, and Pinto will return to Triple-A after Mejia was reinstated Friday. Pinto has appeared in 22 games for Tampa Bay this year and has a .206/.239/.309 slash line and 43.7 percent strikeout rate in 71 plate appearances.

Mejia (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mejia made one rehab appearance with the Rays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate this week and has been cleared to rejoin the big-league roster after spending the 10-day minimum on the shelf. The 26-year-old should step in as Tampa Bay's primary backstop since Mike Zunino (shoulder) is out for the year.

Haase is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.

Haase had been operating as Detroit's primary catcher, but he'll hit the bench Friday for the fourth time in the past six games. Tucker Barnhart will start behind the plate to form a battery with Bryan Garcia.