Angels activate Stassi, option Briceño

The Angels activated catcher Max Stassi from the injured list before Sunday’s series finale against the Astros and optioned fellow catcher José Briceño to their alternate training site in Long Beach.

Stassi had been out since Aug. 20, when he took a foul ball off his right knee while catching that caused both a knee bruise and a quad strain. But Stassi recovered quickly and was in the lineup on Sunday. He’s fared well offensively this season, entering Sunday’s game hitting .244/.327/.511 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 18 games. Angels manager Joe Maddon said he’s not worried about injury for Stassi but is more concerned with the heat on Sunday.

“He’s gone through a full rehab, he’s ready,” Maddon said. “I’ll watch him. The trainer sits right next to me in the dugout.”

Briceño played in two games in Stassi's absence, going 1-for-5 with a walk, while Anthony Bemboom served as the regular catcher when Stassi was out. But despite not playing much, Briceño left a positive impression on Maddon.

“I like him,” Maddon said. “Made a strong impression on [Dylan] Bundy the other day. Dylan was very complimentary with what José did and how he did it. This guy is definitely not afraid. Has a real feel for the position, and there’s more in the bat than people think. The guy competes. I like him. And he’s a big league catcher. That’s obvious to me.”

Rengifo scratched, but replaces injured Barreto
Second baseman Luis Rengifo was scratched from Sunday’s lineup with a left thumb strain sustained Saturday, but ended up entering the game in the seventh inning. Franklin Barreto injured his left shoulder on a slide while stealing second base in the sixth and was replaced by catcher Anthony Bemboom as a pinch-runner before Rengifo took Barreto's place in the field the next inning.

Rengifo was injured applying a tag to Abraham Toro on a stolen base attempt in the sixth inning of Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, though he did play in Game 2. Barreto, who was slated to serve as designated hitter, started at second base, while Albert Pujols moved from first base to designated hitter. Jared Walsh joined the lineup at first base and went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including the go-ahead hit in the eighth.

Maddon didn’t have an update on Barreto’s shoulder after the game but explained why he went with Bemboom as the pinch-runner instead of inserting Rengifo right away. Rengifo later drew a bases-loaded walk as part of a four-run eighth inning in the 9-5 win.

“I was told before the game that Rengifo was not able to play,” Maddon said. “So, I thought he was totally out for the day. And then, after, I'm trying to conclude how we're going to play defense. That's what was taking me so long. So Bemboom, I'm trying to put him in to run and I'm going to put him on defense the next inning. That was it. So I come back after this, Rengifo was in a dugout smiling, saying, 'I'm good.' So, you can be stubborn and say, 'No, you're not going to play,' or you move it along, and I was able to move it along.”

Fletcher making progress
Second baseman David Fletcher, who sustained a left ankle sprain on Aug. 30, is eligible to return from the injured list on Thursday and could be activated then. Fletcher has emerged as one of the better infielders in the Majors and is hitting .313/.377/.438 in 35 games this season.

“He’s doing well,” Maddon said. “I always hate to give you guys a finish line until I’m sure, but he’s progressing well, walking around, I have not heard anything negative from training staff.”

Buchter elects free agency
Lefty reliever Ryan Buchter cleared waivers after being designated for assignment on Wednesday, but decided to elect free agency in an attempt to latch on with another club. Buchter, 33, struggled with his control this year, posting a 4.50 ERA with eight strikeouts, six walks and two homers allowed in six innings over 10 appearances. He has a career 2.90 ERA in 220 innings over a six-year career.