MLB Player News

Perez went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Thursday's 7-2 loss to Oakland.

Perez served as the DH for Thursday's matinee and supplied the only runs on the day for the Royals, taking Oakland starter Paul Blackburn deep in the first inning. It was the 45th homer of the season for Perez, moving him into a tie with Vladimir Guerrero for the major-league lead. Perez has gone yard in three consecutive games, going 6-for-13 at the plate during that stretch. He's hitting .300/.348/.650 with seven homers and 18 RBI since the start of September.

Heim isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against Houston.

Heim went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's matchup and will head to the bench for the third time in the last four games. Yohel Pozo will start behind the plate and bat seventh.

Gomes isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

Gomes has gone 1-for-12 with a homer, three runs and two walks across his last four appearances. Sean Murphy will start behind the plate and bat seventh.

Grandal isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Grandal will get a breather after he went 6-for-16 with a homer, three runs and three RBI across the last four games. Zack Collins will start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Perez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run Wednesday in the Royals' 12-10 loss to the Athletics.

Perez's second home run in as many days gives him 44 on the season, leaving him one of shy of Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero for the MLB lead. In light of Perez's production relative to other catchers, there's an argument to be made that he's been the most valuable fantasy contributor in 2021. Among all catcher-eligible players, Perez has 14 more home runs, 39 more RBI and 14 more runs than second place in those respective categories.

Stassi is not in the lineup Wednesday against the White Sox.

Stassi hasn't started back-to-back games since Sept. 5 and 6, and that trend will continue after going 1-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts Tuesday. Kurt Suzuki will work behind the plate for the Halos.

Perez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

After a five-week stint on the injured list due to an inflamed shoulder, Perez returned to the Cleveland lineup Tuesday and went 0-for-3 in the team's 6-3 loss. Austin Hedges will get a turn behind the plate Wednesday in the series finale, and he and Perez will most likely split the catching duties in relatively even fashion over the final two and a half weeks of the season.

Raleigh went 2-for-4 with a double in a loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday.

The reserve backstop has a miserable .178/.222/.288 slash line for the season, but he's at least had a reason to smile over his last two starts. Raleigh is 4-for-8 in that pair of opportunities with the starting nine, which have come within a four-day period. Raleigh has encouragingly gotten good wood on the ball in that brief sample as well, as three of his four hits have been two-baggers.

Vazquez isn't starting Wednesday's game against Seattle, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Vazquez will be out of the lineup for a second straight game, but he should be available off the bench after he appeared as a pinch hitter in Tuesday's win. Kevin Plawecki will start at catcher and bat eighth.

Perez went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run, an additional RBI and an additional run scored in Tuesday's win over the Athletics.

Perez had gone four games without a homer -- a relative oddity considering his power surge over the last few weeks -- but he blasted his 43rd long ball of the campaign in the bottom of the sixth, putting the Royals up by one run and giving the team a lead they'd never relinquish. The star catcher has hit .269 with five homers and 15 RBI through 52 at-bats this month.