MLB Player News

Sanchez (biceps) is in the Yankees' lineup behind the plate and batting third against the Cubs on Friday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Sanchez hasn't officially been activated from the disabled list, but the Yankees penciled him in as Friday's starter. As long as he makes it through pregame workouts, he'll be good to go, and Kyle Higashioka will be demoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make roster space, Jack Curry of YES Network reports. Sanchez returns for his first regular-season action since April 8, when he sustained the biceps strain. Fantasy players should throw him back into their lineups as well.

Maldonado is not in the lineup Thursday against the Mariners.

Maldonado will take a seat after starting each of the last five games, while Juan Graterol will get the start behind the plate in his stead.

Trevino was placed on the temporary inactive list Thursday, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Trevino was slashing .314/.375/.392 through 14 games with Double-A Frisco this season before landing on the inactive list. It's unclear when he'll be back with the team, though it will at least be a three-game absence.

McCann is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Indians.

He and Alex Avila have been on an every-other-day starting regimen over the past week, and McCann has just one hit in his last 13 at-bats. Avila will start behind the dish and hit seventh against righty Carlos Carrasco.

The Yankees plan to active Sanchez (biceps) from the DL on Friday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Sanchez progressed to normal batting practice Monday and has been ramping up his throwing with no reported issues. He will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday in preparation for a weekend return in Chicago. Manager Joe Girardi said he's inclined to return Sanchez to the two-hole upon his activation, where Sanchez was for his first five starts of 2017, pushing Chase Headley back down in the batting order.

McCann is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Indians.

The 26-year-old has just nine hits on the season (.155 batting average), so he'll head to the bench for another night off Tuesday. Alex Avila will take over behind the dish for the evening.

Vazquez is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Orioles, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

Vazquez seemed to have supplanted Sandy Leon as the top catcher in the pecking order, but Tuesday marks the second day in a row that the former will be watching the game from the bench. It's unclear what manager John Farrell's plan on this is moving forward, but Vazquez should continue to get plenty of playing time given his stellar start to the season at the plate (1.032 OPS, four homers).

Gomes is not in the lineup Monday against the Tigers.

Gomes will take a seat for the second straight game as Roberto Perez takes over behind the dish. The 29-year-old should continue to see the bulk of action behind the plate despite his .176/.276/.275 slash line.

Vazquez is out of the lineup Monday against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

With three straight starts heading into the series opener, Vazquez appears to have taken over as the Red Sox's primary option behind the plate, but he'll give way to Sandy Leon on Monday. Vazquez is a top-flight defender, but his 14-for-34 showing at the dish through the first month of the season has been the main reason he's catapulted Leon on the depth chart.

Perez sprinted out of the gate in 2017, hitting .272 with six home runs and 12 RBI through the season's first month.

The Royals' backstop leads AL catchers in home runs and is tied with Baltimore's Welington Castillo with 22 total hits. Perez's .837 OPS also tops the charts among that group. What's even more encouraging is that the veteran's .271 BABIP is uncharacteristically low, suggesting increased production is attainable.