MLB Player News

Tigers catcher James McCann is certainly no speed demon, but he did something Wednesday that many burners on the bases have never done. He hit an inside-the-park home run.

"I've never run that far in a baseball game before," McCann said.

McCann blasted one that got away in deep right-center in Minnesota and he circled the bases to drive in two runs and tie a game his team eventually won. It capped a fine game for McCann, who had already doubled in a run. He later singled.

The 24 year old had not been tearing it up at the plate, but the three-hit game gives him five in his last nine at-bats and raises his average to .258.

Sandy Leon is in the Red Sox starting lineup for Sunday's game at Baltimore, bumping Ryan Hanigan. 

Leon starts for the second time in four games and sixth time this season. 

The Sox are -105 money line favorites over Baltimore. 

Brett Hayes will get his second start of the season at catcher on Saturday. Hayes is batting eighth in the Indians' lineup. 

Hayes' start gives Roberto Perez a rest after starting nine of the last 10 games. 

The Indians are +105 money line underdogs at Detroit. 

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas and catcher Salvador Perez have good track records against White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana, who will be on the mound for Friday's AL Central showdown.

Moustakas is batting .345 (10 for 29) with two doubles, two home runs, three RBI, two walks and seven strikeouts in his career against the left-hander, while Perez is batting .364 (12 for 33) with one triple, two home runs, three doubles, seven RBI, two walks and five strikeouts.

Both players are also doing well against lefties in 2015. Moustakas, who bats left-handed, is batting .355 (11 for 31) with one home run, three doubles and three RBI against lefties, while Perez -- who bats right-handed -- is batting .296 (8 for 27) with one double, one home run and five RBI.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters that knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will not have a designated personal catcher while Dioner Navarro is on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury, per the National Post.

Navarro was Dickey's battery mate this season. Toronto called up Josh Thole from Triple-A, who is familiar with Dickey's work. He caught the majority of the knuckleballer's starts during his run with the Mets. Gibbons said he's leaning on having Thole behind the plate catching Dickey on Friday, per Sportsnet.ca.

The Blue Jays have promoted catcher Josh Thole from Triple-A Buffalo. Thole will serve as the backup to Russell Martin while Dioner Navarro is on the mend.

Thole batted .248 with no home runs in 133 at-bats for Toronto a year ago.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez went 2 for 3 in Monday night's 7-1 win over the Twins. 

Perez recorded an RBI in the process, his 12th of the season. He now has an impressive slash line of .380/.385/.620 in 13 appearances. Perez also scored a run during Monday night's game.   

Tigers catcher James McCann is making his third straight start behind the plate Monday against the Yankees.

Alex Avila started seven of the team's first eight games at catcher, but he's been limited to pinch-hit and defensive-sub duty in recent days as the Tigers have faced three straight lefty starters. He's hit .182/.400/.318 in 22 at-bats.

McCann is starting behind the plate for the fifth time this season, all against left-handed opposing pitchers. He's 2 for 8 against lefties and 1 for 11 against righties this season.

The Tigers are favorites (-118) against the Yankees Monday.

Tigers catcher James McCann was hitless in his last 13 at bats, entering Sunday's game. 

He broke the slump in a big way, hitting his first triple since July 28, 2013, when he was with Double-A Erie. 

"To be honest, when I was getting close to second I was a little surprised I could keep running," McCann said, per MLive. "I almost missed second. But I'm just glad I could hit the ball hard a few times today and help get our team a W."

McCann said it was just the third triple he's hit since college, counting one he hit in the Dominican Winter League in November, 2013. 

Manager Brad Ausmus was impressed with McCann's swing.

"I think we're seeing that James McCann is a strong human," he said. "Although he didn't hit for a lot of power in the minors, it wouldn't shock me if a few years down the road he was hitting for more power."

Indians catcher Roberto Perez is 6 for 16 with two home runs and three RBI against right-handed pitchers this season. However, the catcher is hitless in seven at-bats against lefties.

Perez is serving as the team's starting catcher while Yan Gomes is on the disabled list, and he's continuing to struggle against southpaws after going 4 for 24 against them last season. The Indians will square off against lefty John Danks and the White Sox Monday.

The Indians are slight favorites (-109) against the White Sox, per VegasInsider.com.