Perez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-0 win over the Cubs.

Perez put a bow on the Royals' six-run fifth inning with the team's lone extra-base hit of the contest. While his hot start to the season was erased when he batted .194 in June, Perez has bounced back to hit a more respectable .261 (18-for-69) over 18 contests in July. The catcher is up to 19 homers, 70 RBI, 42 runs scored, 16 doubles and a .278/.337/.474 slash line through 101 games this year.

O'Hoppe went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Athletics.

O'Hoppe continues to make plenty of contact in July -- he's batting .308 (20-for-65) this month, though he's posted just three extra-base hits and five RBI over 18 contests. The catcher is up to a .282/.336/.465 slash line with 14 home runs, 43 RBI, 46 runs scored, 13 doubles and two stolen bases through 89 contests. While he's struck out at a 25.0 percent rate in 2024, O'Hoppe has done plenty of other things right in his first full major-league campaign.

Vazquez went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, two runs, a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 9-3 win over Detroit.

Vazquez produced his first three-hit game since April, and three of the veteran catcher's five home runs this season have come in the month of July. He is still splitting work with Ryan Jeffers behind the plate, but with Jeffers seeing work as the DH as well, Vazquez has started 10 of the last 18 games. The 33-year-old is slashing .280/.321/.507 with four homers over his last 75 at-bats.

The Cubs selected Bethancourt's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Bethancourt will fill the roster spot vacated by Tomas Nido (knee) and will share catching duties with Miguel Amaya while Nido recuperates. The 32-year-old slashed just .159/.198/.268 across 88 plate appearances with the Marlins earlier this season.

The Cubs placed Nido on the 10-day injured list Friday with a right knee sprain, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Nido will be eligible to return in early August but given the nature of the injury, it seems unlikely that he'll be ready by then. Miguel Amaya and Christian Bethancourt will handle the catching duties for the Cubs.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.

Higashioka is absent from the starting lineup for a second straight contest, yielding to Luis Campusano behind the dish. Higashioka has gone 5-for-15 with two doubles and a homer since the All-Star break.

Murphy is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Mets.

Travis d'Arnaud has started each of the first two games of the series against the Mets and has made four starts to Murphy's three since the All-Star break. Murphy had two hits in his last start Wednesday, but before that he had been hitless across his last five contests.

Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Cincinnati.

Rortvedt is absent from the starting nine for a second consecutive game, avoiding a matchup with lefty Nick Lodolo on Friday. Alex Jackson will bat ninth and catch in Rortvedt's place.

Jeffers is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers.

Jeffers will give way to Christian Vazquez behind the dish for Friday's series opener. Jeffers is 3-for-16 with a double since the All-Star break and holds a .773 OPS on the year.

Murphy isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

Murphy will get a breather after going 2-for-4 during Wednesday's game against the Reds, allowing Travis d'Arnaud to catch for lefty Chris Sale during Thursday's series opener.