MLB Player News

Gallagher is starting at catcher and batting ninth Sunday against Cleveland.

Gallagher slides into the starting lineup, giving Drew Butera a rest, for the fourth time since being called up Aug. 6 when Salvador Perez (oblique) landed on the disabled list. However, the latter is scheduled to return early next week, meaning Sunday could be Gallagher's final MLB appearance for quite a while.

Perez (oblique) will be activated either Tuesday or Wednesday before Kansas City's home game against Colorado, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Perez is eligible to return now, but manager Ned Yost plans to take advantage of Monday's off day before bringing back the catcher. Drew Butera will continue starting, with Cameron Gallagher backing him up, until Perez is activated.

Maldonado is not in the lineup Sunday against the Orioles, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Maldonado is 0-for-11 over his last three starts, so he'll get the day off to gather himself after starting seven of the last eight games at backstop. Juan Graterol will fill in for him behind the dish for the contest.

Vazquez is not in the lineup Sunday against the Yankees, Scott Lauber of ESPN.com reports.

Vazquez will head to the bench for a second straight contest after starting three of the previous four games behind the dish. Sandy Leon will again draw the start in his place, batting eighth.

McCann is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

McCann will head to the bench for a breather after starting eight of the last nine games behind the dish, a stretch over which he's gone 10-for-32 (.313). John Hicks will take over for him at backstop, batting seventh.

Gomes is out of Saturday's lineup against the Royals, Josh Vernier of 610 Sports reports.

He just barely plays enough to be considered the starting catcher, but it's essentially a pretty even timeshare with Roberto Perez. Gomes has six RBI and four hits in his last two games, but Perez will start behind the dish and hit ninth.

Vazquez is out of Saturday's lineup against the Yankees, Scott Lauber of ESPN.com reports.

He has started three of the last four games and is coming off a 3-for-3 effort in which he hit a home run and scored three times. Sandy Leon will start behind the dish and hit eighth.

Higashioka (back) was activated off the 7-day DL at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

The catcher ended up missing just about two months with the ailment, and after a brief rehab assignment at the lower levels of the minors, he was back behind the plate Friday for the Triple-A squad. Higashioka is hitting .333 with seven home runs in 19 games at all levels of the minors this season, and he figures to remain the top replacement option behind the plate if the Yankees need an extra catcher.

Sanchez went 1-for-5 with a solo homer Friday against the Red Sox.

Sanchez ripped his 23rd bomb of the year to pull the Yankees even in the seventh inning of a divisional loss. He's absolutely on fire, as he's homered six times over his last 10 games, and his yearly totals continue to make him an extremely valuable fantasy option at the catcher position.

Garver could see time in left field, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

While he wasn't making any concrete lineup plans, manager Paul Monitor said he wouldn't hesitate to put Garver in left field if the situation arose. Garver does have some slight experience in the outfield, starting 14 games there this season with Triple-A Rochester despite never playing there in any lower levels.