MLB Player News

Jansen (hand) remains on the bench for Saturday's game against the Cubs.

Jansen hasn't played since behind hit by a pitch Thursday against the Guardians. He was diagnosed with nothing worse than a hand contusion, but it will again be Alejandro Kirk who starts behind the plate Saturday.

Perez went 4-for-4 with one double, a home run, four RBI and two runs scored in Friday's victory over the Cardinals.

Perez opened the floodgates for Kansas City with a two-run double in the first, then followed with a solo home run in the second to put the Royals up by nine. Perez now has 17 home runs on the season but has been struggling since the start of June, entering the game with a .204 batting average to go along with just five homers and 13 RBI over that stretch. Perhaps this performance will help springboard the 33-year-old veteran to a big finish to his season.

Garver went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 win over the Giants.

Garver homered just one pitch after Nathaniel Lowe opened the scoring in the sixth inning. After a stretch where he hit safely in 12 of 13 games, Garver had gone 0-for-6 across his last two contests before snapping the mini-skid. The catcher is up to eight homers, 27 RBI, 20 runs scored, eight doubles and a .272/.349/.483 slash line over 169 plate appearances this season. He continues to see a starting role while Jonah Heim (wrist) is out, though Garver could see more time at designated hitter once the Rangers' top backstop is back.

Raleigh went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 9-2 win over the Orioles.

Raleigh continued his recent power surge -- his homer Friday was his sixth in his last 10 games. The catcher's first-inning blast set an early tone in the Mariners' favor. He's smacked a team-leading 20 long balls with 51 RBI, 54 runs scored and a .227/.310/.455 slash line through 100 contests this season.

Heim (wrist) took live batting practice again Friday in San Francisco, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Heim has been participating in daily BP sessions since Tuesday and is now expected to return to the Rangers' active roster in the early part of their upcoming homestand, which begins Monday. The 28-year-old catcher had produced a strong .816 OPS with 14 homers and 70 RBI through 90 games this season for Texas when he was diagnosed July 28 with a partially torn tendon sheath in his left wrist.

Thaiss is out of the lineup Friday against the Astros.

Chad Wallach will start behind the plate and bat ninth as the Angels take on right-hander Justin Verlander. Logan O'Hoppe (shoulder) could soon return and claim the majority of the playing time at catcher for the stretch run.

Jansen (hand) is not in Friday's lineup against the Cubs.

After getting hit by a pitch Thursday, Jansen initially stayed in the game. He would later exit and was diagnosed with a right hand contusion after X-rays came up negative. Alejandro Kirk will start at catcher Friday as Jansen remains day-to-day.

Perez (thumb) started at catcher and played five innings in Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to the River Cats on Thursday, going 0-for-1 with a run. He was also hit by a pitch.

Perez took four plate appearances as the designated hitter Tuesday before stepping in behind the dish for the first time on his rehab assignment Thursday. Assuming he experiences no residual effects from his first time playing defense in over a month, Perez may up his playing time in his next rehab game.

Rutschman went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Astros.

Rutschman has multiple hits in six of his nine games in August, going 13-for-36 (.361) with two homers and 10 RBI for the month. The catcher's blast Thursday came on Houston starter Hunter Brown's third pitch of the game. Rutschman is up to a .276/.373/.440 slash line with 16 homers, 57 RBI, 58 runs scored, 19 doubles and a triple over 110 contests this season.

Jansen's X-rays on his right hand returned negative Thursday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Jansen was diagnosed with a right hand contusion after getting hit by a pitch Thursday. The 28-year-old stayed in the game initially, and he is now labeled as day-to-day. The Blue Jays head into a series against the Cubs over the weekend.