MLB Player News

Indians catcher Yan Gomes left Saturday's game against the Tigers with a right leg injury after Rajai Davis slid into home plate in the ninth inning. 

Gomes was covering the plate on a grounder to first with the bases loaded when Carlos Santana tried to get the force at home. Davis went straight into what appeared to be Gomes' right ankle. He needed assistance to get back to the dugout to be further evaluated. Roberto Perez replaced Gomes behind the plate.

Manager Terry Francona said that Gomes had a right knee sprain, per MLB.com. He's scheduled to get an MRI on Sunday morning. 

Diamondbacks catcher Gerald Laird was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the Dodgers and replaced by Tuffy Gosewisch.

Laird was the preferred option to work behind the plate with rookie Archie Bradley slated to make his major-league debut, but he is been dealing with back tightness, the team announced. If the team thinks he'll need more than a few days to recover after re-evaluating him Saturday, he could be placed on the disabled list, the Arizona Republic reports.

The Diamondbacks are heavy underdogs (+185) against the Dodgers Saturday.

The Royals are open to handing catcher Salvador Perez another contract extension in hopes of making him a lifetime Royal, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Perez signed a five-year, $7-million extension with the Royals back in 2012 with a $5 million club option in 2018 and a $6 million club option in 2019. He holds a career .286/.316/.436 slash line with 45 homers and 213 RBI over 406 games. Perez, who has been an All-Star in back-to-back seasons, is hitting .455 (5 for 11) with one home run and four RBI to start the season.

Pirates catcher Chris Stewart went 0 for 2 with a walk in the first game of his rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona Thursday.

Stewart initially injured his hamstring on March 9, and the issue caused him to open the season on the disabled list. He was also caught trying to steal second base in the third inning Thursday, and ended up catching eight innings before being removed for a pinch hitter in the ninth. Provided he doesn't encounter any setbacks, he could be back with the team soon.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez went 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBI in a 4-1 win over the White Sox on Thursday. Perez homered in sixth with one on and two out.

Perez, 24, has a batting average of .500, driving in four runs on four hits in 8 plate appearances.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud drove in two runs during a 6-3 win Thursday against the Nationals. He went 2 for 4 with one run.

d'Arnaud got both of his RBI on a bases-loaded single with two outs in the third inning. He is batting .455 (5 for 11) with four RBI in three games.

Pirates reserve catcher Chris Stewart, who began the season on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, will make a rehab start tonight for Double-A Altoona in that team's season opener. 

Stewart, who injured his hamstring on March 9, was expected to split duties with Francisco Cervelli this season. Stewart's injury opened the door for Tony Sanchez to make the club as the No. 2 catcher. 

Stewart hit .294 with 10 RBIs last season in 49 games. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's matchup with the Diamondbacks.

Belt left Tuesday's game with a groin injury and was scheduled to undergo an MRI Wednesday. With the first baseman sidelined, catcher Buster Posey will shift to first base and Hector Sanchez will enter the game at catcher.

The Giants will also start Matt Duffy at second base and Justin Maxwell in right field Wednesday, sending Joe Panik and Gregor Blanco to the bench.

Tigers catcher James McCann will get the start over Alex Avila against the majority of left-handers this season, manager Brad Ausmus told reporters on Wednesday, per the Detroit Free Press.

Avila is a career .215 hitter against left-handed hitters. McCann slashed .280/.353/.414 against left-handers in the minors, and has only 12 career at-bats in the majors.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal drew his first start of the season Tuesday against the Padres after A.J. Ellis started in Monday's season opener. Grandal did not get into Monday's game.

Grandal hit .203 (12 for 59) with one home run, three doubles, five RBI, five walks and 15 strikeouts in 20 spring games.