MLB Player News

Gomes went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during Thursday's win over San Diego.

With a .233/.320/.383 slash line, five homers, 20 RBI and 20 runs, Gomes is a low-end option. His attachment to a high-powered offense is intriguing and offers a modest fantasy floor, but his upside is capped.

Grandal is not in the lineup Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

Grandal has been hot as of late, collecting three extra-base hits and four RBI in the past three games, but he'll head to the bench for a night off. Austin Barnes will collect a start behind the dish to replace him.

Hedges (neck) will be available off the bench for Thursday's game, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Manager Andy Green said that Hedges was "feeling better" prior to Thursday's contest against the Indians, but the club wanted to stress precaution with their catcher instead of rushing him back too fast. He could return for the series opener against Philadelphia on Friday, but if he is unable to go, Hector Sanchez or Luis Torrens would fill in.

Hedges (neck) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Indians.

Hedges was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to neck stiffness and will get another day off as Luis Torrens draws the start behind the dish. There hasn't been much word from the Padres concerning Hedges, so he should be considered day-to-day for the time being.

Vazquez is not in the lineup Thursday against the Rays, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports.

As is usually the case when Chris Sale trots to the mound, Vazquez will cede the catching duties to Sandy Leon for the evening. The 26-year-old has cooled off considerably after his scorching hot start, as he's just 11 for his past 61 at-bats.

Mesoraco's shoulder injury is unrelated to his previous torn labrum that ultimately required surgery, according to manager Bryan Price, as told to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.

That's the good news. The bad news is that Mesoraco hurt his shoulder catching the ball, and that anti-inflammatory medicine did not lessen the soreness in his shoulder. While the Reds don't believe this is a long-term injury, how he did it and that he could not get immediate relief don't bode well.

Barnhart is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Colorado, Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Barnhart will take a seat after catching five of the past six games for the Reds. In his place, Stuart Turner is making a rare start behind the plate while batting eighth.

Perez went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning of Wednesday's win over Seattle.

The backstop has been a go-to fantasy asset for years, but 2017 might prove to be his best season. He's sporting a rock-solid .288/.318/.528 slash line with 17 homers, 55 RBI and 36 runs, and his 301 plate appearances lead all catchers. Perez shouldn't have any trouble remaining a high-end contributor moving forward, either.

Perez has been selected for his fifth All-Star Game, and he'll suit up as the American League's starting catcher for the fourth straight season.

Per ESPN.com, Perez will become the first AL catcher to start four consecutive All-Star Games since Hall of Famer Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. Furthermore, only one time has a Royal been the game's starting catcher (Darrell Porter in 1979) before this run, and Perez joins George Brett as the organization's only players to start consecutive midsummer classics. Entering Wednesday, the veteran backstop was slashing .290/.320/.523 through 76 games. His 16 home runs and 53 RBI are most among all MLB catchers. In his seventh big-league season at age 27, Perez is on pace to shatter career bests in a handful of categories.

According to manager John Gibbons, Maile will require a procedure on the torn meniscus in his right knee, The Associated Press reports.

The Jays were hopeful that surgery might be avoidable, but the skipper's comments made clear that Maile is headed under the knife. Any value that the backup catcher brought to deep leagues is now out the window. The recently acquired Miguel Montero steps in as the new reserve behind Russell Martin.