MLB Player News

Perez is on the bench for Monday's game against the Royals, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

Perez drew three consecutive starts behind the plate over the weekend against the Red Sox while Mike Zunino was away from the team to witness the birth of his child. Now back in Tampa Bay after taking a few days to celebrate the new addition to his family, Zunino will step back in as the team's top backstop, relegating Perez to the No. 2 role.

Murphy went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer against the Angels on Sunday.

Murphy's shot -- his second of the season -- came in the ninth inning as a part of the Mariners' furious comeback attempt. He's starting sparingly due to the strong performance of Omar Narvaez, though he's taken advantage when given a chance by going 9-for-21 with five extra-base hits.

Narvaez is not in Sunday's lineup against the Angels.

He has three home runs and six RBI over his last 15 at-bats but will head to the bench for this day game. Tom Murphy is starting behind the dish, hitting sixth.

Garver is not in Sunday's lineup against the Orioles.

He hit a pair of home runs in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, but will take a seat for Sunday's day game. Willians Astudillo will start behind the dish, hitting second.

Stassi went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Saturday's 9-4 loss to the Rangers.

The home run was just Stassi's second hit in 22 at-bats. He showed some promise at the plate during the first half of the 2018 season, but opponents caught up to him and his playing time dwindled over the second half of the season. Stassi's appeared in just seven games in 2019 and will have a tough time reaching the 88 games he played in 2018.

Garver went 3-for-6 with a pair of home runs in Saturday's 16-7 victory over the Orioles.

Serving as the leadoff hitter in the nightcap of a doubleheader, Garver hit a three-run homer off Mike Wright in the third inning and added a solo shot in the eighth inning off Branden Kline. The homers were his fourth and fifth of the season. The effort lifts Garver's batting average to an impressive .424 for the season.

Perez will start at catcher and bat ninth Saturday against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Perez will be behind the plate for the second day in a row following Mike Zunino's placement on the paternity list. Zunino is scheduled to rejoin Tampa Bay no later than Monday, so Perez's heightened workload will come to an end quickly.

Perez is out of the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Braves.

The Indians will have Kevin Plawecki catch the afternoon contest, while Perez presumably checks in behind the plate for the nightcap. Perez is slated to work in a battery with Trevor Bauer for that contest.

Jansen is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics.

Luke Maile draws the start at catcher after Jansen was behind the plate for both of the Jays' previous two contests. After a disappointing start to the season offensively, Jansen has begun to show signs of a breakthrough lately, posting exactly one hit in each of his last four starts.

Vazquez is not starting Saturday against the Rays.

Vazquez sits after homering in each of the last two games. He and Sandy Leon, who starts Saturday, have each started twice since Leon's promotion.