MLB Player News

Vazquez isn't starting Monday against the Blue Jays.

Vazquez started in the last four games and went 2-for-13 with an RBI and three strikeouts. Kevin Plawecki will start behind the dish after being reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list.

Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Monday.

Wong appeared in two games during his time with the major-league club, and he went 1-for-6 with an RBI and a strikeout. Kevin Plawecki will serve as the primary backup behind the dish after he was activated from the COVID-19 injured list.

Maile (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Maile sustained a hamstring injury late in camp and was unavailable to begin the regular season, but he recently appeared in six rehab games and hit .563 with two homers, six runs, six RBI, four walks and three strikeouts. The 31-year-old will serve as the primary backup behind the dish after Bryan Lavastida was optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

Maldonado isn't starting Monday against the Rangers.

Maldonado will get a day off after he went 1-for-8 with a double, two runs, two walks and seven strikeouts in his last three appearances. Jason Castro will start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Plawecki (illness) is back with the Red Sox on Monday after a stint on the COVID-19 injured list, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Plawecki tested positive for the virus last Monday, but he's evidently now over his symptoms and has tested negative. He'll return to his role as Christian Vazquez's backup behind the plate.

Jansen (oblique) has begun baseball activities but is not yet ready to swing, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Jansen has been out for two weeks with an oblique strain that will reportedly cost him an extended absence. He's reportedly slightly behind Teoscar Hernandez (oblique), who's expected to begin live batting practice within the next few days. That leaves Jansen with a timeline that's still somewhat ambiguous, but he's at least taking steps in the right direction.

Rutschman (triceps) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with High-A Aberdeen this week.

Rutschman's recovery has gone smoothly so far, with the catcher making enough progress to get into game action. He remains assigned to Triple-A Norfolk as he continues to heal. Rutschman, the Orioles' top prospect, will likely need multiple games to get back up to speed, and he'll likely see a little more time with Norfolk before presumably making his major-league debut sometime this season.

Collins went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Astros.

Collins poked a single in the second inning but did all of his damage in the sixth, taking Luis Garcia deep for a three-run shot to tie the game at 5-5. The 27-year-old is enjoying a strong start to the year, slashing .303/.324/.636 with three home runs and seven RBI through 34 plate appearances.

Maile (hamstring) has gone 9-for-16 with two home runs, two doubles and four walks through the first six games of his rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus.

After sustaining the left hamstring injury in the penultimate week of spring training, Maile missed out on the Guardians' Opening Day roster. He was cleared to return to action in the minors April 15 and has proven his health as a hitter, but the Guardians may still want him to log some more innings behind the plate before bringing him back from the 10-day injured list. Whenever he's activated, Maile will likely replace Bryan Lavastida as the top backup behind No. 1 catcher Austin Hedges.

Perez (hand) will serve as the Royals' designated hitter and will bat third in Sunday's game against the Mariners.

Perez will be limited to a non-defensive role for the series finale after he was hit in the left hand by a pitch in Saturday's 13-7 loss, though the 31-year-old was probably due for a day off behind the plate anyway after catching each of the previous three days. Assuming Perez's hand provides no complications while he swings the bat Sunday, he should be a fixture in the Kansas City lineup during the team's upcoming six-game week.