MLB Player News

Pinto will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Pinto seems to have moved into a timeshare at catcher with Christian Bethancourt, as the two backstops have now alternated turns behind the plate over the past 12 games. Since his call-up from Triple-A Durham on July 21, Pinto is hitting .295 but hasn't offered much production in other categories (one home run, no stolen bases, five RBI and two runs over 46 plate appearances).

Bethancourt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Rene Pinto will get the nod behind the dish in the series finale in Cleveland. Bethnacourt and Pinto have alternated starts at catcher over the past 12 games and look to be stuck in a near-even timeshare for now.

The Angels placed Stassi (personal) on the restricted list Sunday.

Stassi was initially placed on the 15-day injured list after suffering a hip injury late in spring training before he was transferred to the 60-day IL in June. Though the Angels have noted that Stassi is ostensibly healthy again and "in a position to resume activities," he's voluntarily choosing to sit out the remainder of the 2023 season while he tends to a serious family medical issue that has prompted him to conduct his rehab away from the team since the end of spring training. In 2024, Stassi will be entering the final season of the three-year, $17.5 million extension he signed with the Angels in May 2022, and Los Angeles also holds a $7.5 million club option and $500,000 buyout of his contract for the 2025 season.

Sanchez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Sanchez is in the midst of a five-game hit streak during which he's gone 6-for-17 with a double and two homers, but he finds himself on the bench for the second time in San Diego's past three games. Luis Campusano has also hit well with an .856 OPS this season and will work behind the plate Sunday.

The Angels reinstated Thaiss (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Sunday.

After landing on the IL on Aug. 25 with right shoulder inflammation, Thaiss spent the minimum amount of time on the shelf and didn't require a rehab assignment prior to being activated. He'll be one of three catchers on the Angels' 28-man roster, but even though top backstop Logan O'Hoppe is getting the day off for Sunday's series finale in Oakland, Thaiss won't receive the starting nod behind the plate. Instead, Chad Wallach will catch for Angels starter Tyler Anderson.

Naylor is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.

Naylor is 6-for-16 with two homers in his past five contests and will receive Sunday off after he started the previous two games. Cam Gallagher will take over behind the plate and bat eighth.

O'Hoppe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

O'Hoppe will get a breather in the series finale after he went 3-for-20 with a home run and a double while starting at catcher in each of the Halos' last five games. Chad Wallach will fill in for O'Hoppe behind the dish, forming a battery with starting pitcher Tyler Anderson.

Wynns will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

With All-Star backstop Elias Diaz getting a breather for the day game after a night game, Wynns will pick up a turn behind the plate. Since the Midsummer Classic, Wynns has mustered a lowly .472 OPS in 13 games while seeing limited use behind Diaz.

Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.

Diaz started the past five games and will receive a break after going 3-for-22 with an RBI, three runs and seven strikeouts during that span. Austin Wynns is working behind the plate and batting ninth Sunday.

Heim took batting practice from the right side of the plate Sunday and has been cleared to make starts against left-handed pitching, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

When he was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Aug. 13, Heim had been limited to batting from the left side of the plate since he hadn't fully healed from a strained wrist tendon. Three weeks later, the switch-hitting Heim looks like he'll now have the platoon advantage in each of his plate appearances as the regular season winds down. Heim will hit from the left side of the plate to start Sunday's contest while he starts at catcher and bats sixth with the Rangers opposing Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda.