MLB Player News
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Exits game with hip soreness
Perez was removed from Thursday's game against the Rays due to left hip soreness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
It's not clear when or how Perez was hurt, but he was pinch-hit for by Cavan Biggio in the top of the sixth inning. Consider Perez day-to-day for now, but the Royals should offer more clarity on his status after the game. He had an RBI double in one of his three plate appearances before exiting.
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Jhonny Pereda C | MIN
Athletics' Jhonny Pereda: Picking up rare start
Pereda will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Rangers.
Pereda has been with the Athletics since Opening Day but will be making just his sixth start of the season through the team's first 32 games. The 29-year-old will likely continue to see sporadic playing time so long as top backstop Shea Langeliers is healthy.
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Matt Thaiss C | TB
White Sox's Matt Thaiss: Heading to bench Thursday
Thaiss is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.
Edgar Quero is behind the dish and Andrew Benintendi is occupying the designated-hitter spot in Thursday's series finale, so the White Sox won't have room in the lineup for Thaiss. After serving as the White Sox's primary catcher for most of the season, Thaiss has faded into more of a part-time role since Quero was called up from Triple-A Charlotte on April 17. Thaiss has started in six of Chicago's 14 games following Quero's promotion.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Moves to IL
The Rangers placed Higashioka on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a mild left intercostal strain.
Texas had previously indicated Wednesday that Higashioka was dealing with hamstring soreness, but after further evaluation, the veteran backstop was revealed to be dealing with an injury to the upper half of his body. Manager Bruce Bochy does not expect Higashioka to be sidelined beyond the minimum 10 days, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. Higashioka had been working in a timeshare behind the plate with Jonah Heim for much of the season, but Heim should see the overwhelming share of starts at catcher while Higashioka is out.
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Shea Langeliers C | ATH
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Getting breather Thursday
Langeliers is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Texas.
It's a well-earned day off for Langeliers, who caught each of the previous four games for the Athletics. Jhonny Pereda is starting at catcher and batting ninth in the series finale.
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Bo Naylor C | CLE
Guardians' Bo Naylor: Getting day off
Naylor is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.
Naylor started at catcher in each of the last five contests, so he'll be getting a needed rest Thursday as the Guardians wrap up their series against the Twins with a day game after a night game. Austin Hedges will fill in behind the plate, forming a battery with starting pitcher Ben Lively.
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Danny Jansen C | TEX
Rays' Danny Jansen: Out of Rays' lineup
Jansen is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Royals, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
For the first time this season, Ben Rortvedt will make more starts in a series than Jansen. It will be Rortvedt at catcher and batting ninth on Thursday as the Rays try to avoid the sweep.
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Mitch Garver C | SEA
Mariners' Mitch Garver: Extends on-base streak
Garver went 0-for-2 with a run scored and two walks in Wednesday's 9-3 win over the Angels.
The veteran slugger made his ninth start at catcher this season, giving primary backstop Cal Raleigh a break behind the plate while he served as the designated hitter. Garver has reached base safely in seven consecutive appearances, during which he's batting .300 with one home run, six RBI, five walks and one stolen base over 20 at-bats. With Luke Raley (oblique) on the injured list, Garver is a candidate for an increase in playing time if the Mariners can find ways to get his bat into the lineup, whether it be at catcher, first base or as the DH.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Smacks second homer in victory
Kirk went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Wednesday's extra-inning win over Boston.
Kirk snapped a 10-game homerless drought Wednesday, also recording multiple hits for the third time in his last four outings. Despite batting just .233 with two long balls, two doubles and eight RBI over 73 at-bats in April, Kirk has remained Toronto's primary backstop. It's worth noting that backup catcher Tyler Heineman is hitting .448 with four extra-base hits and five RBI across his 29 at-bats this year, so Kirk appears to have some legitimate competition on the depth chart.