MLB Player News

Perez went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.

Perez got the scoring started by taking lefty Connelly Early deep on a 94-mph fastball in the bottom of the first inning. He later singled in the sixth and eighth innings, giving Perez his third three-hit game of the season. He saw his average dip below the Mendoza Line with two hitless showings in the first two games versus the Red Sox, but the veteran backstop is now slashing .211/.259/.368 with eight home runs, 21 RBI, 18 runs scored and a 9:42 BB:K across 201 plate appearances this season. After being in the 91st percentile with a 14.8 percent barrel rate last season, Perez is barreling just 8.5 percent of his batted balls in 2026. He's also experienced sharp declines in his hard-hit rate and bat speed at 36 years old.

Wacha didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts across six innings.

All four of Wacha's outings this month have resulted in quality starts. He left with a 3-2 lead Wednesday, but Steven Cruz coughed up a two-run homer to Jarren Duran in the top of the seventh inning to spoil a potential victory for Wacha. The right-hander still racked up a season-high eight strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 2.70 with a career-best 1.03 WHIP and 55:20 K:BB across 63.1 innings this year. Wacha is slated to make his next start at home against the Yankees early next week.

Contreras went 3-for-4 with a triple and one run scored in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Royals.

Contreras hit his first triple of the season to lead off the top of the second inning and later scored on a Nick Sogard single. Contreras has been hot at the plate, going 6-for-13 with the triple, one homer, five RBI and two runs scored during Boston's three-game series with Kansas City. Over his last five games, Contreras is batting .450 with a pair of home runs and seven RBI. He's slashing .269/.369/.497 with 10 homers, 30 RBI, 22 runs scored, one stolen base and a 20:52 BB:K across 198 plate appearances this season.

Sanchez was removed from Wednesday's game against the Yankees after getting the wind knocked out of him, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Sanchez landed hard on his chest when attempting a diving catch on a flyball in the seventh inning and was replaced in right field immediately afterward as a precaution. The Jays will evaluate him ahead of Thursday's series finale, though the team doesn't seem to be very worried about him missing an extended period of time. If the 28-year-old sits down Thursday, Myles Straw would likely draw the start against southpaw Carlos Rodon.

Chapman picked up the save in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Royals, allowing one hit with a strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

After allowing a leadoff single to Starling Marte to open the bottom of the ninth, Chapman struck out Carter Jensen before generating a flyout and groundout to pick up his 12th save of the season. He also extended his scoreless streak to 13.2 innings spanning 14 appearances. Chapman has lowered his ERA to 0.51 with a 23:7 K:BB across 17.2 innings this season.

Early (4-2) earned the win Wednesday against the Royals, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts across 6.1 innings.

Early made only two mistakes Wednesday: serving up a solo homer to Salvador Perez in the first innings while Elias Diaz later took the left-hander deep for a two-run shot in the fifth. Early was still able to log a quality start, his fourth in his last seven outings, and he's allowed more than three runs in just one of 10 starts to begin 2026. After struggling with walks earlier in the year, Early has issued one or no free passes in three straight outings. The rookie owns a 3.33 ERA and 50:19 K:BB across 54 innings, though his xERA (4.72) suggests some regression could be in store. Home runs have also been an issue, as he's now surrendered nine on the season and seven over his last five starts.

Duran went 2-for-5 with a triple, a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 win over Kansas City.

One day after whacking a three-run home run, Duran launched a two-run blast in the seventh inning Wednesday that proved to be the game-winning hit. The outfielder's bat has come alive over the last week, as he's gone 7-for-19 with three doubles, one triple, two home runs and six RBI over the last five contests.

McKinstry went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Wednesday's 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Guardians.

McKinstry was the only Detroit player with multiple hits, and it was his first time doing so since all the way back on April 4. It's been a struggle offensively for the veteran utility player, who is batting just .186 with a .503 OPS this season. McKinstry was much better during the 2025 regular season with a .259 average and .771 OPS, but he has career marks of just .229 and .671, respectively, and 2026 has seen regression set in.

Vest allowed a run on two hits across an inning of work and was charged with a blown save in Wednesday's 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Guardians. He struck out one.

The Tigers decided to use regular closer Kenley Jansen in the eighth inning against the top of Cleveland's lineup to protect a 1-0 lead. That left the ninth for Vest, and the veteran allowed the lead to slip away on a pair of hits and an RBI groundout. Vest has struggled this year with a 5.93 ERA across 13.2 innings, blowing two saves in his past four appearances. His early season performance should leave no doubt that Jansen is locked in as Detroit's closer.

Ramirez went 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning win over Detroit.

Ramirez had done little through the first nine innings, but he showed up with a clutch hit in the extra frame. He doubled in what became the game-winning run. Ramirez is beginning to emerge from a season-opening slump; he's 10-for-23 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBI over the last six games.