MLB Player News

Hedges is out of the lineup Saturday against the Pirates.

After starting the last four games, Hedges takes a seat in favor of Hector Sanchez, who is hitting sixth. Hedges is hitting .235 with five home runs and a 33:3 K:BB in 98 at-bats since the start of June.

Perez (oblique) is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mariners, Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star reports.

Perez was forced from Friday's game in the seventh inning with discomfort in his right side, and manager Ned Yost later acknowledged that there is concern about the injury. An MRI was scheduled for Saturday, the results of which have not yet been disclosed.

Mesoraco (knee) is back in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals.

It will be Mesoraco's first start in a week -- he has been limited to just one pinch-hitting appearance so far in August due to a knee injury. Mesoraco has battled hamstring and shoulder issues as well over the course of the season and hasn't looked much at all like the player we saw break out in 2014, slashing just .218/.318/.406 in 51 games.

Stubbs was promoted to Triple-A Fresno on Saturday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Stubbs didn't exactly rake with Double-A Corpus Christi, slashing just .236/.324/.331 in 300 plate appearances to begin 2017. However, with Juan Centeno moving up to the big club to replace Evan Gattis (concussion), Stubbs will get his first opportunity with the top minor-league affiliate. His speed at the catcher position makes Stubbs somewhat intriguing in dynasty leagues, but he is a work in progress at the dish, and there are questions about his ability to hold up to the rigors of catching duties.

D'Arnaud is not in Saturday's lineup against the Dodgers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

D'Arnaud will get Saturday afternoon off after going 0-for-3 in Friday night's game. Rene Rivera will start in his place, hitting eighth.

Nicholas went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Friday's 8-4 loss to the Twins.

Nicholas was making just his second start behind the plate since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on July 24. The 29-year-old had initially served as the Rangers' third catcher, but the July 30 trade of Jonathan Lucroy to the Rockies will now lock Nicholas in as the primary backup to Robinson Chirinos. Expect Nicholas to pick up one or two starts per week, unless Chirinos' ongoing offensive struggles eventually prompt manager Jeff Banister to roll with a timeshare at catcher.

Perez will undergo an MRI on Saturday to examine his right side and rib area, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Manager Ned Yost said that he was concerned about the situation. If Perez is found to have an oblique strain or a similar injury, he could easily miss multiple weeks, something the Royals certainly can't afford if they want to make a serious run at the postseason. Drew Butera replaced Perez behind the dish Friday.

Perez exited Friday night's game against the Mariners in the seventh inning after striking out to end the sixth. The club did not immediately announce the reason for his exit, Wilson Alexander of MLB.com reports.

For the second time in nine games, Perez was removed early with apparent discomfort. The backstop suffered a minor rib injury July 25, but only missed one game before returning to action. Drew Butera will be in line for Saturday's start if Perez sits out.

McGuire wrapped up his rehab assignment and rejoined Double-A New Hampshire on Friday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

McGuire was hitting just .216 with 11 strikeouts through 16 games at Double-A before suffering a knee injury in early May. The catcher took little more than a month off following surgery before appearing in 11 rehab games (12-for-34). McGuire has yet to blossom with the Jays organization since coming over from Pittsburgh in a trade last year, and there's only a month remaining before the Fisher Cats season ends.

Jansen, who began the season with High-A Dunedin, was promoted Thursday for the second time in 2017 and joined Triple-A Buffalo, Ricardo Arguello of USA Today Network reports.

Jansen, a 22-year-old backstop, is arguably the organization's breakthrough player of the year. He hit .369 with a .963 OPS through 31 games with Dunedin, then slashed .291/.378/.419 over 52 contests at Double-A New Hampshire. Jansen has unexpectedly emerged as the Jays' top catching prospect with an outstanding campaign, and his efforts will likely land him an invite to next year's spring training.