MLB Player News

The Indians don't plan to seek a starting catcher with Yan Gomes sidelined 6-8 weeks due to an MCL sprain, according to FOX Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal. 

The team views Roberto Perez as a capable starter, but the team could look for an upgrade at backup catcher over Brett Hayes.

Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain might get a day off Wednesday against the Twins, with Jarrod Dyson replacing him in the starting lineup, manager Ned Yost said Monday.

Yost also indicated Erik Kratz might also get a start in place of catcher Salvador Perez on Thursday.

Cain and Perez have started all seven games, including Monday at Minnesota.

Mets manager Terry Collins is dropping center fielder Juan Lagares one spot in the batting order. 

Lagares was a candidate for the leadoff spot in spring training, but he opened the season in the six hole in the order. After opening the season with a .160 average and six strikeouts in 25 at bats, Lagares will bat seventh on Monday. 

"If he continues to swing the bat like he can, he'll be in the leadoff spot," Collins said, per ESPN. "Right now, he's struggling a little bit. So we kind of like where he's at. We've got all the confidence in the world. When that confidence fades, we'll find somebody else. But, right now, this guy is one of the real, real good players and an up-and-coming star in this game."

Catcher Travis d'Arnaud, who is hitting .333 with five RBI, moves up from the seventh spot. 

Royals catcher Salvador Perez went 2 for 5 at the plate in Kansas City's 9-2 win over the Angels Sunday. 

Perez got things going early with an RBI single in the second, driving home Kendrys Morales. Then, Perez came to the plate in the seventh and ripped the first pitch he saw from Fernando Salas to left center field for his third homer of the year. Perez has a .417/.440/.833 slash line to start the season.

The Marlins are likely to call up catcher J.T. Realmuto and infielder Reid Brignac from Triple-A New Orleans to the 25-man roster, according to a report from the Miami Herald. 

Realmuto and Brignac would replace utility man Don Kelly and Jeff Mathis, who could end up on the disabled list soon. Both Kelly and Mathis fractured fingers during Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Rays. 

The Indians announced Sunday that after undergoing an MRI, catcher Yan Gomes will miss 6-to-8 weeks with a moderate MCL sprain suffered during a play at the plate during Saturday's game against the Tigers. 

Gomes was placed on the 15-day DL earlier Sunday, but the MRI confirmed a more serious injury. He was 3 for 20 with a double and two runs scored on the young campaign, but was considered to be one of the key pieces for the Indians in their contention for a division crown.

Gomes hit .278 with 21 home runs last season.

Indians catcher Brett Hayes will join the major-league roster Tuesday to serve as the team's backup catcher while Yan Gomes recovers from a knee sprain, MLB.com reports.

Hayes hit just .135/.151/.212 in 52 at-bats with the Royals last season. First baseman Carlos Santana will be the team's emergency catcher Sunday if Roberto Perez can't go the full game.

Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy and second baseman Scooter Gennett are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.

Lucroy is getting a break from starting Sunday after opening the season just 1 for 20, and Martin Maldonado will take his spot behind the plate. Manager Ron Roenicke said he isn't worried about Lucroy's slow start, the Journal Sentinel reports.

"Luc has had some good at-bats," Roenicke said Sunday. "He stayed on a breaking ball and hit a bullet to second yesterday. The day before he lined out to short. So he’s had some good at-bats. The first couple days he was lost, then he started swinging the bat again. I like what he’s doing."

With Lucroy out of the lineup, Jean Segura will move to the No. 2 slot, and the manager indicated that Segura's early-season performance made his choice for the spot easy.

"The way he’s been swinging it, yeah," Roenicke said. "Other than that, I don’t what I would have done. Sometimes you slip in a Khris Davis or somebody else. But Seggy, the way he’s swinging, he’s perfect."

Gennett is out of the lineup for the second straight game after getting ejected Friday for slamming his bat to the ground on a called strike three when the team had no backup infielders on the bench. Hector Gomez will get a second straight start at second base after going 2 for 3 Saturday.

The Brewers are favorites (-120) against the Pirates Sunday.

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and catcher Carlos Ruiz are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

With Utley on the bench, third baseman Cody Asche, who didn't start Saturday's game, slides into the third spot in the lineup. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez and catcher Cameron Rupp will start Sunday and hit in the bottom third of the order.

The Phillies are heavy home underdogs (+180) against the Nationals Sunday.

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.

Bethancourt is 3 for 15 with one walk, two doubles and two RBI in four games this season. The Braves will use A.J. Pierzynski behind the plate Sunday. Pierzynski, who is 1 for 2 with a walk and a home run, will bat fifth.

The Braves are favorites (-118) against the Mets Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.