MLB Player News

Stallings will sit Friday against the Mets, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Stallings had been scheduled for a rest Thursday, but that game was rained out. He'll wind up getting two days off in a row, with Michael Perez catching in his absence Friday.

Perez will be on the bench for Friday's game against the Royals.

Perez will sit for the second time in three games despite homering Thursday. Austin Hedges takes over behind the plate in his absence.

Jeffers will sit Friday against the Tigers.

Jeffers homered Thursday, but that was just his fifth hit in his last 11 games. Ben Rortvedt will start behind the plate in his absence.

Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The young catcher has spent the past couple weeks in the majors, but he'll head back to Triple-A with Christian Vazquez and Kevin Plawecki both healthy. Wong went 3-for-11 with a double, two runs and seven strikeouts in his first taste of big-league action.

Plawecki (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's game against the Phillies, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Plawecki hasn't played since June 20 due to a left hamstring strain. The backstop resumed baseball activities last week and was ultimately able to avoid a rehab assignment. He'll rejoin Boston on Friday as the backup catcher behind Christian Vazquez. Connor Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move.

Caratini had X-rays on his right hand come back negative after leaving Thursday's game against the Nationals, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old exited Thursday's contest after being clipped on the hand by a foul ball, but it appears he avoided a serious injury. Caratini should be considered day-to-day heading into Friday's series opener versus the Rockies.

Haase went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 5-3 loss to the Twins on Thursday.

Haase took Minnesota starter J.A. Happ 408-feet deep to left to open the game's scoring in the fourth and later singled as part of a rally in the sixth. It was his second homer in his past three contests, and the backstop now has 13 home runs and a .250/.297/.568 slash line in 41 games in 2021.

Jeffers went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, walk and strikeout as Minnesota defeated Detroit, 5-3 on Thursday.

Jeffers got the Twins on the board with his solo home run off Detroit starter Tarik Skubal in the fifth and later walked in the eighth to reach base eight times in his last 21 plate appearances. During those five games, the backstop has raised his OBP from .262 to .281.

Perez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Thursday against the Royals.

Perez took Scott Barlow deep with two out in the eighth inning to give Cleveland a 4-3 lead, the fourth homer of the year for Perez. The veteran catcher returned from a two-month injury absence July 4 and, after going hitless in his first game back, has managed a hit in each of his last three games (3-for-12). It's at least a small measure of progress for Perez, who was slashing just .131/.274/.295 in 73 plate appearances at the time of his injury.

Realmuto went 0-for-2 with three walks, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 8-0 win over the Cubs.

Realmuto's steal and run came in the second inning, as he darted home when Didi Gregorius stole second. The 30-year-old catcher has gone 5-for-21 (.238) with five walks, a home run, two RBI and seven runs scored through six games in July. Overall, Realmuto has a .261/.369/.437 slash line, eight homers, 31 RBI, 33 runs scored and five steals in seven attempts through 67 contests.