MLB Player News

Maldonado left Saturday's game against the Rangers with right forearm tightness, Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City reports.

Maldonado's removal was reportedly precautionary. If he's forced to miss an extended period, Cam Gallagher would take over as the Royals' primary catcher.

Narvaez will remain on the bench against the Angels on Saturday.

Narvaez will sit for the second game in a row and the third time in four contests. He's gone just 2-for-15 in his last five games but still has a strong .287/.362/.465 line on the season, so it would be a surprise to see him lose his starting job. Tom Murphy will start behind the plate again.

Vazquez is not in the lineup Saturday against the Yankees, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Vazquez will sit for two games in a row for the first time all season. Sandy Leon will get the nod behind the plate.

Perez is not in Saturday's lineup against the White Sox, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

He is hitting .152 with two home runs over his last 10 games. Kevin Plawecki will start behind the dish and hit eighth.

Murphy went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Friday's 4-3 win over the Angels.

The backup catcher scored on a Dylan Moore single in the third inning, and then went yard in the fifth inning to extend the Mariners' lead to 3-0 at the time. In 20 games, Murphy is hitting .302 with three homers and four doubles across 63 at-bats, although Omar Narvaez continues to have a strong hold on the starting catcher job in Seattle.

Garver (ankle) caught a full game behind the plate Friday for Double-A Pensacola and is likely to be activated from the 10-day IL shortly, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

He could be activated from the IL as soon as Saturday. He's been playing in rehab games since Monday as he recovers from a high ankle sprain.

Perez (oblique) is expected to have his minor-league rehab assignment set by the end of the weekend, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Perez has been making deliberate but steady progress since first getting sidelined in early May. The backstop may only need a handful of minor-league games before being deemed ready for activation. Perez figures to slot back into the left-handed side of a platoon behind the dish alongside Mike Zunino, who just returned to action from a quadriceps injury Friday.

Zavala was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte following Friday's game against the Indians, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Zavala made his major-league debut Sunday, and despite taking the collar (0-for-4), he was finally able to nab his first hit Friday night. This move opens up a roster spot for Welington Castillo, who's eligible to come off the 7-day injured list Saturday.

Narvaez isn't in the starting lineup Friday against the Angels, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Narvaez will get a day off after making just one start. Tom Murphy is set to handle the catching duties and hit eighth with Narvaez riding the pine.

Jansen isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against Colorado.

Jansen will take a seat after starting each of his team's last three contests behind the dish. He went 0-for-11 at the plate over that brief stretch. Luke Maile will take over the catching duties and bat eighth in Jansen's stead.