MLB Player News

Tigers catcher James McCann is in the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.

McCann has been on an offensive surge throughout his last seven games prior to the All-Star break, hitting .464 with 13 hits, two home runs and seven RBI.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was held out of Friday's Game 1 lineup at the Chicago White Sox, reports Fox Sports Kansas City.

Perez was replaced by Drew Butera, who will bat eighth. Perez is hitting .200 with two home runs and four RBI in his last nine games.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez started his second straight All Star Game and appeared in his third in a row on Tuesday. 

Perez went 0 for 2, striking out both times at the plate. He doubled his career All Star at bats and is now 1 for 4 in his career. 

Angels sluggers Mike Trout and Albert Pujols lead a powerful American League lineup for Tuesday's All-Star Game, which was announced Monday by AL manager Ned Yost. 

Trout will play center field and bat leadoff, while Pujols will hit third and play first base. Together, the pair of Los Angeles teammates have combined for 52 home runs and 111 RBIs to rally the Angels into first place at the break. 

Here's the full AL lineup:

1. Mike Trout, CF, Angels
2. Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays
3. Albert Pujols, 1B, Angels
4. Nelson Cruz, DH, Mariners
5. Lorenzo Cain, RF, Royals
6. Adam Jones, LF, Orioles
7. Salvador Perez, C, Royals
8. Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros
9. Alcides Escobar, SS, Royals 

Yan Gomes will not start Saturday's game behind the plate for the Indians. 

Gomes has started the last five games and eight of the last nine at catcher for Cleveland. He'll be replaced by Roberto Perez, who gets his third start of the month. 

Royals catcher Salvador Perez hit a solo home run in Friday's win over Toronto. 

Perez homered for the second straight game and the 15th time this season. He went 2 for 4 with two runs scored. He has four RBI in the last three games.

Perez also extended his hitting streak to six straight games. 

Royals catcher Salvador Perez had one hit on Thursday, but it was good for his 14th home run of the season. Perez went 1 for 4 in the 8-3 win over the Rays, as he drilled a two-run blast in the sixth inning.

Perez has homered three times over his last 10 games, but he's batting just .200 with eight strikeouts compared to one walk over that stretch.

Since it was unlikely Royals catcher Salvador Perez was going to catch both games of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rays after Monday's game was rained out, manager Ned Yost made the decision to rest his starting catcher during the first game of the doubleheader.

Drew Butera, who also started Sunday for Kansas City, was behind the plate for the doubleheader opener.

Perez has started behind the plate in 71 of the Royals' 80 games. Unfortunately, Perez has been mired in an offensive slump for a few weeks, batting .164 in his last 16 games.

Tigers catcher James McCann is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game. McCann has started 49 games and five of the last seven. 

Replacing McCann behind the plate is Alex Avila, who started at first the last two games. Avila will get his 22nd start at catcher this season. 

Tigers catcher James McCann drew back-to-back starts Saturday and Sunday against the Blue Jays after Alex Avila started in his first game off the disabled list Friday. Avila started at first base the last two games after Miguel Cabrera went on the disabled list.

McCann went 1 for 4 with a triple, one RBI and one strikeout Saturday before going 2 for 3 with one run, one RBI and one walk Sunday. 

He has now hit safely in five straight games, batting .476 (10 for 21) with one double, one triple, two home runs, five RBI, five runs, one walk and three strikeouts.