MLB Player News

Leon was removed from Triple-A Pawtucket's game Saturday, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports.

Leon becomes an important figure after Boston lost Ryan Hanigan (neck) and Blake Swihart (ankle) to injury during Boston's win over Toronto on Saturday afternoon. With Boston losing its backup and third-string catcher in the same game, removing Leon was an easy decision.

Perez, who is starting Saturday's game, will get Sunday off and will likely get another day off next week as well, the Kansas City Star's Rustin Dodd reports.

He is returning Saturday from a quadriceps contusion, but it sounds like the Royals will be careful with Perez in the next few weeks. He'll sit Sunday, start Monday, and then likely get another day off next week. Still, this only means Perez is on the same schedule as almost every other starting catcher in baseball. In a week or two, he'll be back to playing almost every day.

Gomes is out of the lineup Saturday against the Royals.

Chris Gimenez will get the start behind the plate in place of Gomes for Saturday's matchup against the Royals. Gomes homered Friday for the first time since May 14, but his average is still sitting at .174 on the year.

Perez (quadriceps) is back in the lineup Saturday, batting fifth and catching against the Indians.

After sitting out for nearly a full week due to a quadriceps contusion, Perez will not only return to the lineup Saturday, he'll do so at catcher. His return will bump Drew Butera back to the bench for at least Saturday's contest.

Vazquez is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Vazquez will take a day off after starting the last two games. Ryan Hanigan will start in his place Saturday.

McCann went 3-for-4 with a triple and solo homer in Friday's 10-3 victory over the White Sox.

The 25-year-old backstop's three hits were a season high, and the three-bagger and homer were only his second and third extra-base hits of the season. McCann was proficient at the plate in his official rookie campaign last season, slashing .264/.297/.387 with seven homers and 41 RBI over 401 at-bats. However, he's found success much harder to come by to date in 2016, as the three-hit effort Friday still leaves his season line at .179/.225/.274.

Royals manager Ned Yost did not rule out the possibility of Perez (quadriceps) doing more than just pinch hitting this weekend during the series against the Indians, the Kansas City Star's Rustin Dodd reports. "Maybe," Yost said. "We're still gauging it."

It sounds like there's a chance Perez could return behind the plate later in this weekend's series, but a return next week still seems more likely. That said, it does sound like Perez will at least get the chance to pinch hit this weekend.

Casali is out of the lineup Friday, the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin reports.

He has caught three straight games and notched four hits, including two of the extra-base variety, over that span while also walking three times and striking out just once. Hank Conger will get the start behind the dish and hit ninth.

Jackson has gone 5-for-48 (.104 average) over 14 games with Low-A Clinton this season.

Though Jackson was fully healthy, the Mariners held the outfielder back in extended spring training when camp broke, presumably in an effort to refine his swing following a rough start to his professional career. He was ultimately cleared to make his debut with Clinton on May 19, but Jackson's issues with making contact have once again reared their head. Though three of his five hits have left the yard, he's struck out 18 times, or in 30.5 percent of his plate appearances. The 20-year-old still has time on his side, but since Jackson has been in the pro ranks for almost two years and has yet to experience any sustained success, those holding him in dynasty leagues have justifiable reason to be worried.

Perez (quadriceps) may be available as a pinch hitter by the end of the Royals' weekend series against the Indians, Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star reports.

Perez continued to participate in some light conditioning work Thursday for the second day in a row and he resumed throwing. While his arm is not the issue, Dodd reports that Perez is still having some difficulty getting down into his catching stance. The hope is that Perez will be able to come in as a pinch hitter over the weekend, but there's still no word on when the All-Star will be able to get back behind the plate.