MLB Player News

Perez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 9-1 win over the White Sox.

The backstop hit the second of three long balls against Chicago starter Lucas Giolito to give Kansas City a 5-0 lead in the third inning. The long ball was his 27th of the campaign, tying his career-high mark set in both 2017 and 2018. Perez has hit six homers in his past 11 games.

Maldonado is not starting Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Maldonado has enjoyed a solid stretch offensively, hitting .290 with a pair of home runs, three doubles and four RBI in his last 10 games. Jason Castro will start at catcher and bat eighth Wednesday.

Stephenson went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Twins.

He hit an RBI single in the third inning, then crushed an 86 MPH changeup to center field for a seventh-inning home run. Stephenson has provided some solid production as Cincinnati's backup catcher, as he's hitting .313 with 12 RBI in 67 at-bats since the beginning of July. On the season, the 24-year-old is slashing .282/.372/.419.

McGuire will start at catcher and bat ninth Wednesday against Cleveland.

He'll find himself in the lineup for the third time in four games, with each of those starts coming against right-handed pitching. For the time being, McGuire appears to have the edge over Alejandro Kirk on Toronto's No. 1 catcher role.

Perez was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Blue Jays with back spasms, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Austin Hedges enters the lineup to catch in lieu of Perez, who should be considered day-to-day until further updates from the team become available.

Stassi is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Rangers.

Stassi started the past three games and will receive a breather while in the midst of an eight-game hit streak. He's gone 12-for-30 with three homers, a double, a triple, seven RBI and five runs during that stretch. Kurt Suzuki will work behind the plate in his place.

Jansen (hamstring) has been catching side sessions this week and was spotted taking batting practice prior to Wednesday's game against Cleveland, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

Jansen has been sidelined since July 21 with a right hamstring strain, but he appears to have resumed full baseball activities and could be ready to return from the 10-day injured list within the next week or two. The Blue Jays will likely send Jansen out on a minor-league rehab assignment before activating him.

McCann isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against Miami.

McCann drew starts in each of the last two games and went 1-for-7 with a double, an RBI and a strikeout. Tomas Nido will start at catcher and bat eighth.

Barrera is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

After working behind the plate in both of the Nationals' last two games, Barrera will give way to Riley Adams, who was one of two catcher prospects Washington acquired prior to last week's trade deadline. Expect manager Dave Martinez to distribute the starts between Barrera and Adams relatively equitably, unless one of the two performs dramatically better than the other.

Kirk isn't starting Wednesday's game against Cleveland.

Kirk has recorded hits in each of his last three appearances, but he'll be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games. Reese McGuire will start behind the plate and bat ninth.