MLB Player News

Tigers catcher James McCann is ready to take over as the starter behind the plate and utilize information from injured Alex Avila, according to the Detroit Free Press.

"He has so much information that you only get from working with each individual pitcher," McCann said. "He's worked with (Justin) Verlander for years. He's worked with (David) Price for all last half season. He has information on each of those guys that no one has unless you've actually caught them like he has. So he's been able to help me out with a lot of those nuances. And just game-calling and just understanding different situations and controlling the running game, everything that goes into being a catcher."

Manager Brad Ausmus said McCann has an important role with pitching coach Jeff Jones to help organize all batter information and relaying it to pitchers.

"You don't want to turn it into white noise," Ausmus said. "There's kind of a trickle down effect, what Jonesy has, what the catcher gets and what he gives the pitcher."

McCann is hitting .313 with five RBI in 48 at-bats this season.

"It's probably a little sooner than I would have wanted him to face a bunch of righties, but it's kind of been necessitated at this point," McCann said. "I think he's up to the task. To me, he's a mentally strong kid."

After taking Saturday off, Royals catcher Salvador Perez is back in Kansas City's lineup and is batting sixth. 

Perez missed only his second game of the season when he sat Saturday. He's back in the lineup for Drew Butera, who replaced him on his day off. Perez is hitting .306/.316/.459 with four home runs and 18 RBI in 111 at-bats. 

The Royals will face Tigers pitcher Shane Greene, who Perez is 0 for 3 with a strikeout against. 

Indians catcher Yan Gomes continues to test the injured knee that landed him on the 15-day disabled list. 

Gomes ran the bases before Sunday's game, per Fox Sports Ohio.

Manager Terry Francona said Gomes would be evaluated on Tuesday. He'll go through a series of drills, including crouching, fielding bunts and baserunning. If it goes well, he could be sent out on a minor league rehab assignment that day. 

Sandy Leon gets the start at catcher for the Red Sox on Sunday. 

Leon will bat ninth in the order and replace Blake Swihart, who has started six of seven games since Ryan Hanigan went on the disabled list. 

Leon gets his eighth start of the season. 

Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against Boston. 

Josh Thole replaces Martin in the lineup for the fourth time this year and second time in the last 10 games. 

Thole will bat ninth in the order. Kevin Pillar moves up one spot in the order to replace Martin in the five-hole. 

The Blue Jays are -120 money line favorites at home against Boston. 

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Saturday that catcher James McCann will see the bulk of the starts behind the plate in the wake of the injury to Alex Avila, the Detroit Free Press reports.

McCann has served as the team's starter at catcher against left-handed pitchers but will now see regular action against righties with Avila sidelined. McCann has hit .295/.311/.432 with one home run and five RBI in 44 at-bats this season but has posted a .600 OPS against righties while delivering a .929 OPS against lefties.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers.

It's just the second time this season that Perez hasn't been behind the plate for the Royals. He has hit .306/.316/.459 with four home runs and 18 RBI in 111 at-bats. Drew Butera, who was acquired by the Royals Thursday, is getting the start and batting ninth.

The Royals are underdogs (+140) in Detroit Saturday, per VegasInsider.com.

The Tigers made a late change to their lineup for Friday's game. Alex Avila was scratched from the lineup, and James McCann will take his place at catcher, per MLive. 

Avila suffered a right forearm contusion in the eighth inning of Thursday's game, which will keep him out of the lineup, the team announced. 

If recent lineups are any indication, the starting job could be slipping away from scuffling Angels catcher Chris Iannetta.

Iannetta has been benched for the third time in four games for the Friday night game against Houston. Carlos Perez is set to start instead.

Iannetta did himself no favors with another hitless performance Thursday. He is 1-for-25 over his last eight games and owns a .091/.197/.106 slash line on the year.

Catcher Chris Iannetta is back in the starting lineup for the Angels on Thursday. Iannetta sat out the last two games while rookie Carlos Perez drew the start. The veteran Iannetta is hitting an ugly .094 on the year, and has gone 0 for 5 lifetime against Astros' starter Collin McHugh.