MLB Player News

Royals catcher Salvador Perez went 2 for 5 at the plate in Kansas City's 9-2 win over the Angels Sunday. 

Perez got things going early with an RBI single in the second, driving home Kendrys Morales. Then, Perez came to the plate in the seventh and ripped the first pitch he saw from Fernando Salas to left center field for his third homer of the year. Perez has a .417/.440/.833 slash line to start the season.

The Indians announced Sunday that after undergoing an MRI, catcher Yan Gomes will miss 6-to-8 weeks with a moderate MCL sprain suffered during a play at the plate during Saturday's game against the Tigers. 

Gomes was placed on the 15-day DL earlier Sunday, but the MRI confirmed a more serious injury. He was 3 for 20 with a double and two runs scored on the young campaign, but was considered to be one of the key pieces for the Indians in their contention for a division crown.

Gomes hit .278 with 21 home runs last season.

Indians catcher Brett Hayes will join the major-league roster Tuesday to serve as the team's backup catcher while Yan Gomes recovers from a knee sprain, MLB.com reports.

Hayes hit just .135/.151/.212 in 52 at-bats with the Royals last season. First baseman Carlos Santana will be the team's emergency catcher Sunday if Roberto Perez can't go the full game.

Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez is in the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Indians.

Martinez left Saturday's game in the seventh inning after feeling a pinch in his kneecap. However, he is able to fill his regular role for the Tigers and will bat cleanup behind Miguel Cabrera.

Catcher Alex Avila is not in Sunday's lineup; James McCann will get the start behind the plate.

The Tigers are underdogs (+100) against the Indians Sunday.

The Indians have placed catcher Yan Gomes on the 15-day disabled list due to a right knee sprain, the team announced Sunday.

Gomes suffered the injury in the ninth inning of Saturday's game against the Tigers during a play at the plate. He is 3 for 20 with a double and two runs scored.

Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez both hit fourth-inning home runs in the Royals' 6-4 win over the Angels.

Moustakas hit a solo shot as part of a five-run fourth-inning rally. He went two for four on the day with a walk and his first stolen base of the year. The home run was his second on the season, and he's now hitting .353. 

Perez hit a two-run homer later in the inning. He went two for four on the day. On the season, he has two home runs, six RBI and is hitting .421.

Indians catcher Yan Gomes left Saturday's game against the Tigers with a right leg injury after Rajai Davis slid into home plate in the ninth inning. 

Gomes was covering the plate on a grounder to first with the bases loaded when Carlos Santana tried to get the force at home. Davis went straight into what appeared to be Gomes' right ankle. He needed assistance to get back to the dugout to be further evaluated. Roberto Perez replaced Gomes behind the plate.

Manager Terry Francona said that Gomes had a right knee sprain, per MLB.com. He's scheduled to get an MRI on Sunday morning. 

The Royals are open to handing catcher Salvador Perez another contract extension in hopes of making him a lifetime Royal, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Perez signed a five-year, $7-million extension with the Royals back in 2012 with a $5 million club option in 2018 and a $6 million club option in 2019. He holds a career .286/.316/.436 slash line with 45 homers and 213 RBI over 406 games. Perez, who has been an All-Star in back-to-back seasons, is hitting .455 (5 for 11) with one home run and four RBI to start the season.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez went 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBI in a 4-1 win over the White Sox on Thursday. Perez homered in sixth with one on and two out.

Perez, 24, has a batting average of .500, driving in four runs on four hits in 8 plate appearances.

Tigers catcher James McCann will get the start over Alex Avila against the majority of left-handers this season, manager Brad Ausmus told reporters on Wednesday, per the Detroit Free Press.

Avila is a career .215 hitter against left-handed hitters. McCann slashed .280/.353/.414 against left-handers in the minors, and has only 12 career at-bats in the majors.