MLB Player News

Caratini will be on the bench Friday against the Padres.

Caratini and Martin Maldonado are splitting time in the absence of Willson Contreras (foot). Maldonado gets the nod Friday for the second time in three games.

Garver went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a win versus Oakland on Thursday.

With the Twins up by one run after seven innings, Garver provided a bit of insurance by launching a 426-foot blast to center field leading off the eighth. The home run was his fourth in only 31 at-bats in July and 16th overall in 172 at-bats this season. In comparison, he slugged only seven long balls in 302 at-bats last year.

Sanchez isn't in the starting lineup for Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Rays.

Sanchez will head to the bench after going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Game 1. Austin Romine is set to handle the catching duties and bat ninth.

Thaiss isn't in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros.

Thaiss drew a start Wednesday, but he was unable to collect a base knock (0-for-4). He'll head to the bench with a lefty on the hill for Houston in the series finale. David Fletcher will start at third base and lead off with Thaiss riding the pine.

Gomes is not in the lineup Thursday against the Braves.

Gomes has started three of the past four games behind the dish, going 0-for-8 with a walk, a stolen base and four strikeouts in those contests. Kurt Suzuki is starting at catcher and hitting sixth in this one.

Casali (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

This was expected. The move is retroactive to Tuesday, so Casali will be eligible to return July 26 should he prove ready. Ryan Lavarnway was signed to a big-league contract in a corresponding roster move and should share catching duties with Juan Graterol until one of Casali, Tucker Barnhart (oblique) or Kyle Farmer (concussion) returns from the injured list.

Knizner is 1-for-7 with a double over his first two games since being recalled from Triple-A Memphis on July 11.

The two-bagger came during Wednesday's win over the Pirates and served as his first major-league hit. The 24-year-old backstop's latest promotion is the byproduct of Yadier Molina's thumb injury. Knizner projects to continue splitting time with Matt Wieters in a same-handed platoon while Molina remains sidelined.

McCann is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

McCann is just receiving a breather with the White Sox and Royals wrapping up their series with a day game after a night game. Since appearing in the All-Star Game, McCann has gone 2-for-19 in his first starts, but his slash line still sits at a superb .300/.354/.484 for the campaign. Welington Castillo will replace him behind the dish Thursday.

Mejia is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins.

Mejia has been acting as the Padres' primary backstop for much of the past month, but he'll cede a second straight start to Austin Hedges as San Diego wraps up its series in Miami. Manager Andy Green may just be rewarding Hedges with another turn after the 26-year-old went 1-for-3 with a home run and a walk to aid the Padres to a 3-2 win Wednesday.

Smith was removed from Wednesday's game with Triple-A Oklahoma City with an apparent right wrist injury, Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register reports.

Smith got crossed up behind the plate and appeared to be hit in the right wrist by the pitch, and he was unable to deliver accurate warm-up throws to remain in the game. The 24-year-old should be considered day-to-day until more is known on the injury.