MLB Player News

Sanchez went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and two runs scored during Wednesday's loss to the Angels.

The backstop has posted a 1.181 OPS with seven homers, 19 RBI and 14 runs through 11 June games. Providing those numbers from the catcher position makes Sanchez all the more valuable. Additionally, despite being limited to just 160 plate appearances this season, he already has 11 homers, 31 RBI and 28 runs with a .282/.363/.542 slash line for the season.

Stewart (hamstring) ran curves Wednesday and hopes to progress to running the bases in the near future, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Stewart is slowly making his way back from a hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined since May. Once Stewart is able to run the bases, he'll likely head out on a rehab assignment, at which point there should be a clearer return date for him.

Maldonado is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Yankees, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Maldonado will head to the bench after catching all 11 innings in Tuesday's win over the Yankees. Juan Graterol will take over behind the dish, batting ninth.

Vazquez is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Phillies, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

After reaching base three times Tuesday, Vazquez's on-base percentage now sits a .356 for the season, but that's still not enough for him to secure a larger portion of the timeshare at catcher. He'll hit the bench for the fourth time in six games, clearing the way for Sandy Leon to make another start behind the dish.

Contreras is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Mets.

Contreras has only three hits over the past week, dropping his season batting average to just .240. He'll hit the bench with a day game on tap Wednesday, allowing Miguel Montero to pick up a start behind the dish.

Perez is out of Wednesday's lineup against the Giants, Joel Goldberg of Fox Sports Kansas City reports.

He has started 15 of the last 17 games behind the dish, hitting .271 with two home runs over that stretch. Drew Butera will start at catcher and hit eighth.

Mesoraco is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Padres, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Mesoraco continues to get a steady diet of days off in an effort to keep him healthy, and that trend will continue with a day game on tap Wednesday. Tucker Barnhart will assume catching duties in his stead.

Hedges is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Reds, Bob Scanlan of Fox Sports San Diego reports.

The 24-year-old has terrorized the Reds over the past couple games, collecting five hits and three RBI, but he'll head to the bench with a day game on tap. Luis Torrens will fill in for Hedges behind the plate Wednesday.

Perez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Dodgers.

Not only was it Perez's first long ball of 2017, but it was hit off the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw. Still, the homer can't hide the reserve catcher's awful .147/.226/.213 slash line through 23 games.

Perez (ribs) is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Giants, Joel Goldberg of Fox Sports Kansas City reports.

As anticipated, Perez will re-enter the lineup in time for the series opener in San Francisco. He will resume his normal spot behind the plate and bat fifth.