MLB Player News

Perez (back/neck) is starting at first base and batting third Friday versus the Red Sox.

Perez was held out of Wednesday's series finale against the Pirates due to back/neck tightness, but he'll return to action heading into the Royals' three-game weekend series versus Boston, although he'll get a lighter defensive assignment. Freddy Fermin is catching Friday and Nick Loftin will make his MLB debut as the Royals' designated hitter.

Texas recalled Huff from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Huff will give the Rangers a fourth option at catcher as rosters expand from 26 to 28. The 25-year-old former top prospect has slashed .237/.275/.368 in 40 plate appearances this season at the major-league level.

Cleveland activated Fry (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Friday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Fry is not in the starting lineup for Friday night's series opener against the Rays, but he'll be available off the Guardians' bench following a four-week absence to heal a left hamstring strain. The 27-year-old has slashed .250/.308/.429 with four homers and two steals across his first 42 major-league games this season.

The Yankees selected Wells' contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Wells slashed .243/.335/.446 with 16 home runs and seven stolen bases between Double-A Somerset and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, which included an .841 OPS with five homers in August for S/WB. Questions remains as to whether the 2020 first-round pick is a viable catcher defensively in the long run, but he has plenty of potential with the bat and the Yankees should give him a long look over the final month.

Haase was designated for assignment by the Guardians on Thursday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

The Guardians needed to clear a couple spots on their 40-man roster for their recent waiver claims, and Haase is one of the victims. Haase lasted barely over a week with Cleveland after being claimed off waivers from the Tigers.

Rogers is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.

After missing the first two games of the series with a minor hand injury, Rogers returned to the lineup Wednesday and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in the Tigers' 6-2 loss. Rogers isn't believed to have suffered a setback with the hand injury Wednesday, so his absence from the lineup Thursday looks to be maintenance-related as the Tigers and Yankees wrap up their series with a day game after a night game.

Rogers went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Yankees.

Rogers went deep in the third inning, giving him 16 home runs for the season. The catcher has been struggling this month with just a .172 batting average, though he has gone deep four times in 20 games. Rogers also has a pretty firm grip on the starting job behind the plate with Eric Haase no longer around. Carson Kelly was signed as a depth option but doesn't offer much of a threat to cut into Rogers' playing time.

Kirk went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Nationals.

Kirk opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-out, two-run double before adding a third RBI with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. The 24-year-old Kirk has gone 6-for-11 with four doubles in his last three games following a 4-for-31 (.129) stretch in his previous 10 contests. While Danny Jansen had been getting the majority of starts behind the plate recently, Kirk could regain some playing time with his hot bat. He's now batting .255 with six homers, 33 RBI, 25 runs scored and a .686 OPS across 331 plate appearances this season.

Perez was scratched from the lineup Wednesday versus the Pirates due to back/neck tightness.

Nelson Velazquez will move into the DH role as Dairon Blanco enters the lineup to cover right field. Freddy Fermin is doing the catching for the Royals, as originally planned. Perez can be considered day-to-day.

Higashioka is out of the lineup Wednesday at Detroit.

Higashioka slugged a solo home run in the Yankees' defeat of the Tigers on Tuesday, but he'll take a seat Wednesday as Ben Rortvedt handles the catching duties for New York. Higashioka had made three straight starts behind the plate.