MLB Player News

Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak and catcher Josh Thole are in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.

Smoak is getting the call over Edwin Encarnacion at first base after the team's regular first baseman went 1 for 24 over his last six games. Smoak has hit .266/.356/.438 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 64 at-bats. Thole is getting the call over Russell Martin to catch knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

The Blue Jays are underdogs (+140) on Monday, per VegasInsider.com.

Angels catcher Carlos Perez went 2 for 4 at the plate in Los Angeles' 8-6 win over the Tigers on Saturday. Perez connected with a 1-2 pitch from Shane Greene and ripped it over the center field wall for a solo home run, his second of the season.

Perez then came up in the eighth and ripped a double to left field, scoring another run. Perez is now hitting .292 with 10 RBI on the year.

The Tigers have been scuffling at the plate, but don't blame catcher James McCann.

McCann has been a surprise offensively as an every-day player. He has five multi-hit games in his last 12 starts, during which time he is batting .333 (14-for-42). His slash line now stands at a respectable .284/.318/.412.

Indians catcher Yan Gomes is out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Mariners. Gomes was activated off of the disabled list on May 24 and has been catching every-other-game since his return. So, since he caught Thursday's game, he will sit on Friday with Roberto Perez getting the start behind the plate.

However, manager Terry Francona said Gomes is likely to catch Saturday and Sunday, with the team being off Monday, according to MLB.com

Royals catcher Salvador Perez hit a solo home run in the fourth inning of Friday's win over the Cubs. 

Perez went 1 for 4 and went deep for the sixth time this season. He now has 25 RBI. 

Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin is out of the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the White Sox. Martin had started each of the last four games for manager John Gibbons, but with R.A. Dickey on the mound, Josh Thole will draw the start behind the plate. 

Martin had just one hit (a double) in 16 at-bats during that four-game stretch. 

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was back in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Yankees after getting a chance to rest a nagging leg injury Monday. 

Perez made a pinch-hit appearance Monday, going hitless in his only at-bat to halt a hitting streak at 10 games. He is batting .361 (13 for 36) with one home run, four doubles and six RBI in his last 11 games.

Indians catcher Roberto Perez hit a three-run home run in the second inning of Monday afternoon's 10-8 loss to the Rangers. 

For Perez, it was his fourth home run of the season. He's now slashing .183/.343/.378.

Perez finished the game 1 for 3 and also drew a walk. Even with the homer, he's been in quite the slump, hitting just .143 since April 30.  

Angels left fielder Collin Cowgill, who was scratched from Sunday's lineup after injuring his hand during batting practice, is not in the starting lineup Monday against the Padres. 

X-rays were negative on Cowgill's hand, but Matt Joyce will play left for Los Angeles and hit sixth in the lineup. Carlos Perez draws the start behind the plate for the Angels and will hit seventh. 

The Angels (-140) are big favorites per VegasInsider.com. 

Royals catcher Salvador Perez has been playing through an apparent leg injury for some time, manager Ned Yost said on Sunday per FOX Sports Kansas City.

Yost called it a slight groin injury, while Perez described it as a tight left hamstring. He was given the final inning of Sunday's game off as a precaution. He went 1 for 3 with an RBI in the game and is now hitting .306 with 24 RBI on the season.