MLB Player News

Thaiss will head to the Dominican Republic to play winter ball during the major-league offseason, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Thaiss will use his time in the Dominican Republic to continue working on his skills at third base. The 24-year-old has appeared in 51 games for the Angels this season, hitting .193 with six homers and 19 RBI in 140 at-bats.

Thaiss is not in the lineup Thursday against the Astros.

Thaiss will head to the bench for a second straight game with a left-hander in Wade Miley starting for the Astros on Thursday. Kaleb Cowart is once again starting at third base in his place, hitting eighth.

Contreras is not starting Thursday against the Pirates.

The Cubs are resting most of their starters for Thursday's series finale with no shot left at making the playoffs. Jonathan Lucroy is starting behind the dish in this one.

Nola entered Wednesday's loss to the Astros as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning and singled with one out in the ninth to break up Zach Greinke's no-hitter.

The rookie played spoiler in the shutout loss and snapped the 0-for-14 funk that had encompassed his four prior games in the process. Nola has slowed down considerably since a red-hot first month and a half at the big-league level (80-point drop in batting average to .262 since Aug. 1), although he did spike for nine hits over a four-game period earlier in September.

Mejia is not in the lineup Thursday against the Dodgers.

Mejia has appeared in five games (three starts) since returning from an oblique injury, going 5-for-14 (.357) with two doubles and two RBI. Austin Hedges is starting behind the dish and hitting eighth in this one.

Vazquez (hamstring) is not in Thursday's lineup against the Rangers.

While he left Wednesday's game with hamstring tightness, Vazquez would have sat this game even if he were healthy, with it being a day game after a night game. It's unclear if he will be able to return this weekend against the Orioles.

Garver is not in Thursday's lineup against the Tigers.

All of the everyday position players are taking a seat after Minnesota clinched a division title Wednesday. Jason Castro is starting at catcher and hitting sixth.

Barnhart is not in Thursday's lineup against the Brewers.

He is 7-for-16 (.438) with one home run over his last five games. Curt Casali will start behind the dish while hitting eighth.

Vazquez made a precautionary exit from Wednesday's game at Texas with left hamstring tightness, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Vazquez hit a two-run homer during the top of the third inning but did not retake the field for the bottom of the frame. The 29-year-old wasn't expected to start Thursday's contest regardless, but he could return for the final series of the season versus the Orioles this weekend.

Nola is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Astros, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Nola is hitting .210 with three home runs and a .748 OPS through 18 games this month. Daniel Vogelbach is starting at first base in his place, with Omar Narvaez covering DH duties and Tom Murphy starting behind the dish.