MLB Player News

Perez (multiple injuries) is not expected to play Sunday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

He has not started a game since the Royals were eliminated from postseason contention Wednesday, and it sounds like Perez is indeed done catching for the year. Manager Ned Yost revealed Saturday that Perez has a sore knee and a hamstring strain, so he will get a head start on his offseason and rest his legs for a few months before pitchers and catchers report.

Realmuto is not in Saturday's lineup against the Nationals, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports.

Given how weak the catcher position is, Realmuto will easily finish the year as a top-10 option at the position. His .303 batting average was aided somewhat by a .357 BABIP (career .323 BABIP), but the 11 homers and 12 steals seem like reasonable benchmarks moving forward, as he won't turn 26 until March 18. Jeff Mathis will start behind the dish and hit eighth.

Sanchez is not in Saturday's lineup against the Orioles.

Perhaps no player in recent memory has gotten off to as hot a start to a career as Sanchez, but he's now fallen into a slump to close out the season. He is hitting .094/.189/.219 with one home run and 12 strikeouts over his last 37 plate appearances. Austin Romine will start behind the dish and hit seventh.

Perez is out of the lineup Saturday against the Indians, MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan reports.

He will sit for the third game in a row, as the Royals seem to be giving their franchise catcher a chance to rest his aches and pains as the team plays out the string. Drew Butera will start at catcher and hit ninth.

Rupp went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Mets.

The 28-year-old backstop drove in the Phillies' only run of the night with a second-inning sacrifice fly that opened the scoring for both teams. Rupp has been swinging a hot bat over his last six games, with three multihit outings, a .320 average and five RBI over that span.

Grandal is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

Grandal will come off the bench for the second straight day with the Dodgers facing another left-hander. Carlos Ruiz will receive another start behind the plate Friday night.

Gomes (wrist) was activated from the disabled list Friday.

It appeared that Gomes would almost certainly miss the rest of the season after fracturing his wrist a couple weeks ago, but he will be available for the final few games of the regular season, and the Indians will give him a chance to show if he is healthy enough to be included on the team's postseason roster.

Gomes (wrist) will be activated from the disabled list Friday night, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.

Gomes will not start Friday, but he will be available for the first time since breaking his wrist July 17.

Perez is not in the lineup Friday for the second straight day, according to Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City.

Perez has hit just .199 since the All-Star break and the Royals have been eliminated from playoff contention, so manager Ned Yost decided to give his regular catcher two days off in a row. Drew Butera will get another start behind the plate Friday night.

Grandal is not listed in Thursday's starting lineup against the Padres, Eric Stephen of True Blue LA reports.

Carlos Ruiz is suiting up in his place as the talented young catcher is likely just receiving a break before the weekend series. Look for him again Friday.