MLB Player News

Perez was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Friday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Perez is taking the roster spot of Blake Snell (elbow), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday. The 26-year-old will provide the Rays will additional depth at catcher, as Travis d'Arnaud has seen playing time at first base as of late. Perez was slashing .256/.370/.385 in 46 plate appearances in the majors before being sent down June 10.

Perez is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Durham prior to Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Perez will likely serve as the backup catcher behind Mike Zunino, especially with Travis d'Arnaud seeing more playing time at first base. Perez has put together a .231/.317/.481 slash line with seven homers and 27 RBI over 32 games at Triple-A this season.

Leon launched a two-run home run his only at-bat during Thursday's victory over the Yankees.

Pinch hitting for Mookie Betts, Leon launched his fourth homer of the season, this time a two-run blast off Austin Romine in the eighth inning. The 30-year-old, who serves as the backup catcher to Christian Vazquez, is hitting .207/.273/.328 with four home runs, 15 RBI and 10 runs scored over 116 limited plate appearances this season.

Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a home run in Thursday's loss to the Red Sox.

Higashioka hit his first homer of the season with a solo shot off Rick Porcello in the fifth inning. The 29-year-old was recalled prior to Wednesday's game and will be serving as Austin Romine's backup with Gary Sanchez on the injured list (groin). Through 18 plate appearances this season, Higashioka is batting .222/.211/.500.

Smith will be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Friday's game against the Nationals, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Smith has pieced together a .269/.381/.605 slash line with 20 homers and 54 RBI over 61 games at Triple-A this season, earning him another chance to stick in the big leagues. He figures to share the catching duties with Russell Martin moving forward after Austin Barnes was demoted to Triple-A.

Barnes was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Barnes has been scuffling at the dish since the All-Star break, slashing .133/.206/.233 over nine contests. As a result, he'll take a trip to the minors with the hope of finding his stroke. The Dodgers will recall Will Smith from Triple-A prior to Friday's clash in a corresponding move. Russell Martin and Smith figure to handle the catching duties moving forward.

Murphy (knee) was added to the active roster at Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, Melissa Lockard of The Athletic reports.

The 24-year-old has been out since tearing his meniscus in early May, but Murphy is now back and will presumably take over behind the plate for the Aviators against El Paso on Thursday. He will look to build on the strong .324/.402/.459 line he posted in 19 games with Las Vegas before going down with the injury. If he does that, Murphy, arguably a top-12 catching prospect in all of baseball, could get his first big-league callup in September.

Gallagher is not in the lineup Thursday against the Indians.

Gallagher is slashing .300/.440/.500 with four doubles and two RBI in seven games since the All-Star break. He'll sit for a second straight game Thursday as Meibrys Viloria gets another start behind the dish in this one.

Gomes is not in the lineup Thursday against the Rockies, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Gomes will take a seat on the bench for Thursday's afternoon contest after starting the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader and going 2-for-3 with a home run. In his place, Kurt Suzuki is starting at catcher and hitting sixth.

Casali (knee) isn't expected to return from the 10-day injured list before the end of July, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Casali is eligible to come off the IL on Friday, but since he has yet to resume baseball activities, he won't be ready to rejoin the Reds in the minimum amount of time. Meanwhile, fellow backstop Tucker Barnhart (oblique) is set to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville, putting him on track to beat Casali back from the IL. Assuming that's the case, Casali may have to settle for a reduced role once he's reinstated, likely at some point in August.