MLB Player News

Maldonado is not in the lineup Friday for the second day in a row.

Maldonado has made a lot of starts behind the plate this season, so manager Mike Scioscia is giving him a bit of a break as the season winds down. Juan Graterol will get the start Friday in Maldonado's place.

Leon was added to the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros, Tim Britton of The Providence Journal reports.

Christian Vazquez was originally slated to start behind the plate Friday, but he was scratched for an unspecified reason, and Leon will enter the lineup in his place. Leon will hit eighth in Boston's batting order against Charlie Morton.

Vazquez was scratched from the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros, Tim Britton of The Providence Journal reports.

It's not clear why Vazquez was scratched Friday, but he will not start behind the plate like he was on track to do. Sandy Leon will enter the lineup in Vazquez's place.

Casali is in the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.

Casali has been limited to four pinch-hit at-bats since being called up Sept. 1, but he will get a chance to start Friday. He will be the Rays' starting catcher and will hit seventh against Orioles starter Wade Miley.

Perez (groin) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, 610 Sports Radio Kansas City reports.

Perez injured his groin in Thursday's game, and he will not start Friday as a result. The severity of his injury remains uncertain, but with just a couple games left in the regular season, it's possible he will not start again in 2017. Drew Butera will get the nod Friday in Perez's place.

Sanchez is not in the Yankees' lineup Friday.

Austin Romine takes his place behind the plate while batting ninth in the matinee series opener. Though the masher's rest appears to be routine, there has been some backlash over Sanchez's defense lately -- especially the 16 passed balls on the year -- and it'll be interesting to see whether Sanchez serves as designated hitter in the postseason, if the Yankees survive the wild-card game.

Perez went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the White Sox.

Manager Mike Scioscia gave the majority of his regulars the night off after being eliminated from playoff contention Wednesday, which afforded Perez the opportunity to make his first start since joining the majors Sept. 1. It was the 26-year-old's first homer of the 2017 campaign. He should return to the bench Friday in favor of Martin Maldonado.

Perez was removed from Thursday's game with left groin soreness.

His status for the final series of the season is up in the air. Perez has been banged up throughout the second half, even requiring a DL stint for an intercostal strain in August, but he still ranks fifth among all catchers in games played this season (129) despite the missed time.

Maldonado is out of the lineup against Chicago on Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

Maldonado retreats to the bench following four straight starts behind the plate, going 5-for-13 with a pair of doubles during that span. In his place, Carlos Perez will handle the catching duties.

Nicholas went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Wednesday's 12-2 loss to the Astros.

Nicholas was making just his eighth appearance and fifth start of September, during which he's gone 6-for-20 at the dish. With primary backstop Robinson Chirinos sitting out with a hamstring injury Wednesday and likely to be shut down for the season, Nicholas should pick up at least a couple more starts before the season winds down. No. 3 catcher A.J. Jimenez should also receive a turn behind the plate.