MLB Player News

Perez (intercostal) could play Saturday if he is feeling good enough, according to Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City.

The Royals' chances of making the postseason are fading fast, so they don't have much incentive to play Perez and risk further injury. However, if Perez's latest setback is only minor, it appears the team will not hold him out, either. Essentially, it seems like whether or not Perez plays Saturday -- and likely beyond -- will lie in his hands.

Perez (intercostal) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Indians, according to Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star.

Perez aggravated his intercostal injury Thursday night, so it does not come as a surprise that he is being held out Friday in favor of Drew Butera. It's still not clear how severe Perez's latest setback is, but this is not the first time this season he has dealt with an intercostal issue, so the Royals will not rush him back into action.

Perez aggravated his intercostal injury in Thursday's game against the Indians, Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star reports.

Perez recorded two hits in three at-bats Thursday, but he was not able to finish the game and was spotted with a heavy wrap on his side afterward. Perez missed a couple weeks with the same injury earlier this year, so if it is the similar event this time around, it could cost him the rest of the regular season.

Vazquez went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Thursday's 6-2 win over Oakland.

Vazquez erased a 1-0 deficit with his fifth long ball of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning. The catcher's put together a nice stretch over his past four games with seven hits and five RBI despite batting in the bottom half of Boston's order.

Perez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs in Wednesday's loss to the White Sox.

The backstop's fourth blast of September bumped his season total to a career-high 25 while inching him closer to other personal-best marks. Perez can also surpass previous career highs for runs (57) and RBI (79) by scoring five more times, and driving in seven more runs. With a couple weeks remaining, the 27-year-old is within reach of setting new bars despite the fact that Perez will likely end 2017 with his fewest games played since 2012.

Perez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Tigers.

Although officially listed as No. 2 on the depth chart, Perez continues to play his way into the lineup on a routine basis. In seven starts this month, the catcher is 8-for-26 (.308) with three home runs and nine RBI. Perez is a solid play in daily formats on days when he's in the lineup.

Vazquez is out of the lineup Wednesday against the A's, Tim Britton of The Providence Journal reports.

After starting two consecutive games, over which he went 4-for-8 with three RBI, Vazquez will get the night off. Sandy Leon will serve as Boston's backstop with Vazquez out.

Gomes is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Tigers, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Gomes was behind the plate for the Indians' AL record-tying 20th consecutive win a night earlier, so he'll take a seat and give way to Roberto Perez behind the plate for the afternoon affair. The improved offense of Gomez and Perez has played a major part in the Tribe's lengthy win streak, with Gomes hitting .311 with three home runs, 10 RBI and nine runs over the club's last 20 games.

Higashioka (shoulder) is off the 7-day DL at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

With the Triple-A playoffs in full swing, Higashioka returned to the club last Friday after missing about three weeks with a shoulder strain. The Yankees acquired another catcher in Erik Kratz for their 40-man roster during that span, but Higashioka could still be in line to be called up as added catching depth once the minor-league season comes to an end.

Maile went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run in Tuesday's come-from-behind win against the Orioles.

The catcher's ninth-inning infield single off O's closer Zach Britton tied the game, opening the door for a heroic walkoff single by Richard Urena in the next at-bat. Maile has seen a decent amount of playing time since being recalled on Sept. 1 as part of roster expansions, but his efforts (.227) aren't worth much for fantasy purposes.