MLB Player News

McCann (ankle) will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday.

McCann has been able to catch a bullpen session and run the bases in recent days, but it remains unclear if he'll take the field during the rehab stint or just serve in a DH capacity. If all goes well during his return to game action, the catcher appears to be on track to rejoin the Detroit lineup by the beginning of May.

Vazquez went 1-for-4 and threw out a runner trying to steal second base in Monday night's 1-0 win over the Braves.

The caught-stealing was the first for Vazquez at the major league level since his return from Tommy John elbow surgery. The defensively gifted backstop has a reputation for controlling the running game and it was on display in a tight game where runners in scoring position were at a premium. He does all the little things well -- the aspects of the catching that may not show up in a box score -- that enable pitchers to get wins.

Gomes hit his third home run, a solo blast, in Monday's loss to the Twins.

Gomes continues to struggle with strikeouts, as he logged his 15th in as many games Monday night and is hitting just .245. But the power is there, as Gomes now has two homers in his past two games and six extra-base hits on the season to fuel a sharp .472 slugging percentage.

McCann (ankle) ran the bases Monday and could begin a rehab assignment as the DH at Triple-A Toledo if he feels good Tuesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

The Tigers want to be sure that McCann isn't experiencing any unusual soreness Tuesday after the increase in activity. He's still likely a few days away -- at the earliest -- from returning to the lineup for Detroit.

Sanchez went 0-for-3 with a walk Sunday against Syracuse.

Through 13 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Sanchez is batting .250/.316/.519. He struggled during his opportunity to win a major league spot during spring training, losing the backup catching job to Austin Romine. Sanchez went 0-for-2 during his two plate appearances with the Yankees last season, but could earn a role with the major league club at some point in 2016.

McCann (ankle) caught a bullpen session Saturday and is scheduled to run the bases Sunday, MLive.com's Scott DeCamp reports.

Manager Brad Ausmus said McCann felt good after Saturday's session, and suggested the catcher could soon be ready for about a four-game rehab assignment in the coming days. McCann, who sprained his ankle on April 11, can be activated as soon as April 27, but it appears more likely he'll return a few days after that date.

Perez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Mariners.

Perez has gone a collective 0-for-9 while starting the last three games behind the dish, dropping his season batting average to .150. The Angels value Perez more for his defensive abilities, but he may need to show a little more aptitude with the bat if he hopes to hold off veteran Geovany Soto for playing time. Soto will start at catcher Sunday and has gotten off to a 6-for-19 (.316 average) start to the season.

Perez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Orioles, Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star reports.

Perez is one of the league's few iron men behind the plate, but manager Ned Yost will relent and give the workhorse a day off Sunday, marking his first absence from the lineup in six games. With Perez getting a breather, Drew Butera will make a rare start behind the plate and serve as the battery mate for Yordano Ventura.

Gomes is out of the lineup Sunday against the Tigers, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.

Fresh off a monstrous 3-for-5 performance in Saturday's win in which he homered, doubled, and drove in five runs, Gomes will get a well-deserved day off. He'll be replaced by Carlos Perez behind the plate.

McCann (ankle) took batting practice and ran the bases on Friday and had no aftereffects, reports the Detroit Free Press.

McCann was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 12 after spraining his ankle in a game against the Pirates. He will likely be sent on a minor-league rehab assignment as early as this weekend and is eligible to return to the big club Wednesday. The key consideration will not be McCann's bat, but his ability to catch a full nine innings. He has already progressed to the point where he can throw from his knees to both first and second.