MLB Player News

Casali went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and four RBI in Saturday's 10-6 loss to the Cubs.

Getting the start at first base and hitting seventh, Casali blasted a three-run homer off Brandon Kintzler in the eighth inning, his fourth long ball in 35 games for the Reds. Casali's .333/.410/.552 slash line isn't sustainable -- he came into Saturday's contest with a .710 OPS in 195 career big-league games -- but as long as he's swinging a hot bat he'll keep finding his way into the lineup.

Garver is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics, Dan Hayes of The Athletic Minnesota reports.

Garver's seven-game hitting streak snapped Friday when he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. The recently recalled Willians Astudillo will bat ninth and start behind the plate for the Twins.

Narvaez is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Narvaez will get the day off Saturday after starting the last four games behind the plate. Kevan Smith earns the starting nod at catcher and is batting eighth in his absence.

McCann is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

McCann will head to the bench for the second time in the last three games after going 1-for-4 with three strikeouts in Friday's contest. Grayson Greiner will start behind the plate and bat eighth for the Tigers.

Perez went 2-for-4 with four RBI from a two-run single and a two-run double in a win over the Red Sox on Friday.

The rookie backstop churned out a career-high number of RBI from the nine hole, leading the Rays' impressive offensive charge. Perez can't yet match fellow catcher Jesus Sucre's defense and experience, but he's been appreciably better than the veteran on the offensive end. Factoring in Friday's production, Perez is slashing a serviceable .297/.324/.406 with a home run and eight RBI, and he's drawn starts in 14 of 21 games since the trade of Wilson Ramos to the Phillies.

Perez had his contract purchased from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Perez returned from an ankle injury in mid-July and was outrighted to Round Rock as Isiah Kiner-Falefa took over the job of backup catcher for the Rangers. The 27-year-old is slashing .159/.197/.238 in 68 plate appearances across stints with the Braves and Rangers this season.

Sanchez (groin) went 0-for-3 with a walk and one run scored while serving as the DH for the Yankees' Gulf Coast League affiliate Saturday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

This marked the beginning of Sanchez's rehab assignment after being placed on the disabled list just over a month ago. He will partake in a workout Sunday and then join Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Monday to resume his rehab assignment. If all goes according to plan, he could be back in action with the Yankees on Sept. 3, when New York begins a three-city road trip in Oakland.

Perez went 1-for-3 with a walk and a three-run homer in Friday's win over the Indians.

Perez clubbed a three-run shot -- his 22nd of the year -- in the first inning off Mike Clevinger. Perez ranks second among all MLB catchers in home runs and RBI (64), yet he's putting up the lowest batting average (.232) of his career. The backstop had a career-high 27 homers and 80 RBI last year, and he's proving a similar level of productivity this year even though he's hitting well below his career .267 batting average.

Sanchez will serve as the designated hitter for Saturday's GCL game, and he'll progress to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Sanchez landed on the disabled list July 24 due to a strained right groin. Although he hasn't been penciled into the lineup for the Yankees' GCL affiliates so far, the plan is for him to enter the starting nine over the weekend. Barring any setbacks, Sanchez will advance to Triple-A on Monday, with the potential for a return to the big leagues as early as Sept. 3 against Oakland.

Plawecki will be put on paternity leave "any day now," Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

With Devin Mesoraco nursing a neck sprain, Tomas Nido is the only healthy catcher on New York's active roster at the moment. Until his wife goes into labor, Plawecki will likely continue to receive regular starts behind the plate, which is where he's situated for Friday's series opener against Washington.