MLB Player News

Yankees catcher Chris Stewart, who has missed the last four starts due to a groin injury, completed more tee and toss work Tuesday, the Journal News reports. 

Manager Joe Girardi said he expects Stewart back in the lineup over the weekend. In fact, Stewart could be used Tuesday in an emergency. 

Even before his two home runs Monday, Yan Gomes had impressed the Indians with his bat -- enough that you could see them sticking with him as their backup catcher even when Lou Marson was ready to return from the DL.

But if a best-case scenario for Gomes is a backup catcher role, the 25-year-old doesn't have much utility in Fantasy.

Granted, the Indians' starting catcher, Carlos Santana, often sees time at first base and DH, so Gomes would play more than the average backup catcher, but we're talking no more than two or three starts per week.

If you play in an AL-only league where each team starts two catchers, pick him up. Otherwise, leave him alone.

Salvador Perez owners might want to make a move for A.J. Pierzynski now, just in case Perez's deep hip bruise ends up requiring a DL stint after all. Oh, you play in one of those leagues where Pierzynski wasn't dropped when he went on the DL? That's unfortunate.

But not too surprising. With Miguel Montero, Jonathan Lucroy and Ryan Doumit struggling out of the gate, Jesus Montero getting fewer at-bats than anyone anticipated, and Carlos Ruiz back out of the lineup, what once was a deep position is suddenly quite thin.

Depending on your format, of course. Few Fantasy owners would start a catcher at utility, so it's possible only 10 or 12 are owned in your league. But any more than that, and you might have to resort to the Tyler Flowers-John Jaso-Jason Castro class in place of the Royals catcher. Pick your poison.

Personally, I'd just go with the hot hand.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez is not in the team's starting lineup Tuesday against the Astros, according to the Kansas City Star. 

Perez has a deep hip bruise, and is considered day-to-day. Perez will not start Tuesday, but is available if necessary. Perez is hitting .308/.324/.413 in 143 at-bats. 

Royals catcher Salvador Perez suffered a bruised hip Monday against the Astros, the Kansas City Star reports. Perez hopes to play Tuesday.

"We're here to play, aren't we?" Perez asked following the game. Still, he's day to day.

The Royals said catcher Salvador Perez left Monday's game at Houston due to discomfort in his right hip, the Kansas City Star reports.

Perez was injured after slamming into the post near the Houston dugout going after a pop foul in the fifth inning. He was replaced by George Kottaras.

Perez went 1 for 3 with a run scored before leaving and is batting .308 on the year.

Indians catcher Yan Gomes homered twice, which included a three-run, walk-off home run in the 10th inning of Monday's 10-8 win against the Mariners. Gomes also clubbed a solo home run in the second inning and finished 3 for 5.

Gomes, who has four home runs, extended his hitting streak to five games. He's batting .450 (9 for 20) with two home runs, two doubles and five RBI in that span.

Yankees catcher Chris Stewart missed a third-straight start Monday at Baltimore because of a groin injury. Stewart, who has become the primary starter with Francisco Cervelli on the disabled list, is batting .316 (6 for 19) in his last six games.

Stewart said he's feeling better, but he thinks it will be a few more days before he's in the lineup, according to The Journal News.

Yankees catcher Chris Stewart would be available Sunday against the Blue Jays in an emergency situation only, according to the Journal News and manager Joe Girardi. 

Stewart, who tweaked his groin Thursday, won't be starting for at least a few more days.

"I have told him that tomorrow maybe we’ll start some tee and toss and see where he’s at in that situation, moving around," Girardi said. "He’s still a guy who I would not hesitate to put in there if I had to, but I figured if you can get one more day in a sense, where it gives you almost 36 hours, let’s take it, take advantage of it. I don’t know if he would play Tuesday, but I want to know that he’s better so we could make a decision. He does feel better; he told me."

Yankees catcher Chris Stewart will avoid the disabled list, the New York Post reports.

Stewart suffered a groin injury on Thursday but will not miss more than 2-3 games, at most. Stewart underwent an MRI, which ruled out structural damage. He is day to day.