MLB Player News

Casali went 2-for-3 with an RBI single, a run-scoring double and two walks in Sunday's season-ending 6-4 victory over the Rangers.

The backstop, filling the DH role Sunday, opened the scoring with a single that plated Richie Shaffer in the second and then closed things out with an insurance run in the 10th off a two-bagger that drove home Alexei Ramirez. After a mostly miserable campaign at the plate in terms of batting average, Casali closed out 2016 by hitting safely in six of his last eight games, with four multi-hit efforts, three doubles and five RBI over that span.

Gomes went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Royals.

After missing more than two months with a shoulder and knee injury, Gomes drilled a go-ahead homer in his first at-bat since July 17. It was one of the few highlights in an otherwise disappointing season for Gomes, who batted a lowly .167/.201/.327 with 69 strikeouts and just nine walks in 264 plate appearances. The 29-year-old's numbers have been trending down since 2013, making him a dicey fantasy option as he approaches his thirties.

Indians manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Gomes could be included on the club's ALDS roster, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.

Gomes was activated from the DL on Friday after a lengthy absence due to a separated shoulder and fractured wrist. However, he's still not fully comfortable hitting just yet. The Indians included Gomes in the lineup behind the plate for their regular-season finale Sunday against the Royals, so that may serve as a testing ground to see what Gomes is capable of doing in the batter's box. If Gomes is included on the ALDS roster, the Indians would likely carry three catchers as a safeguard against another injury setback.

Perez (knee) is in Sunday's lineup against Cleveland, Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star reports.

Perez wasn't expected to play Sunday, so his presence in the lineup comes as a bit of a surprise. However, he won't be starting behind the dish. Instead, he'll serve as the Royals' designated hitter and hit cleanup.

Vazquez is a candidate to be the backup catcher, ahead of Ryan Hanigan and Bryan Holaday, for the Red Sox in their postseason series against the Indians, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports.

A couple of factors have Boston manager John Farrell considering Vazquez, who seemingly fell out of favor during the regular season when his offense didn't match his defense. The catcher has thrown out 45.1 percent of would-be base-stealers during his career, a skill that might be useful against a Cleveland team that leads the American League with 134 steals. A second factor is his work with Eduardo Rodriguez, presumed to be the team's third or fourth starter in the playoffs. In the left-hander's last two starts, which featured Vazquez as his battery mate, Rodriguez has struck out 22 batters in 10.1 innings.

Perez (multiple injuries) is not expected to play Sunday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

He has not started a game since the Royals were eliminated from postseason contention Wednesday, and it sounds like Perez is indeed done catching for the year. Manager Ned Yost revealed Saturday that Perez has a sore knee and a hamstring strain, so he will get a head start on his offseason and rest his legs for a few months before pitchers and catchers report.

Sanchez is not in Saturday's lineup against the Orioles.

Perhaps no player in recent memory has gotten off to as hot a start to a career as Sanchez, but he's now fallen into a slump to close out the season. He is hitting .094/.189/.219 with one home run and 12 strikeouts over his last 37 plate appearances. Austin Romine will start behind the dish and hit seventh.

Perez is out of the lineup Saturday against the Indians, MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan reports.

He will sit for the third game in a row, as the Royals seem to be giving their franchise catcher a chance to rest his aches and pains as the team plays out the string. Drew Butera will start at catcher and hit ninth.

Gomes (wrist) was activated from the disabled list Friday.

It appeared that Gomes would almost certainly miss the rest of the season after fracturing his wrist a couple weeks ago, but he will be available for the final few games of the regular season, and the Indians will give him a chance to show if he is healthy enough to be included on the team's postseason roster.

Gomes (wrist) will be activated from the disabled list Friday night, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.

Gomes will not start Friday, but he will be available for the first time since breaking his wrist July 17.