MLB Player News

Higashioka went 3-for-4 with three home runs, five RBI and three runs scored Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

Higashioka emerged as an unlikely hero, delivering the second multi-homer game of his career. He went yard in the third, sixth and seventh innings, bringing his total on the campaign to four. Higashioka remains the backup catcher in New York and has only 36 plate appearances to this point in the season.

Perez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a home run, three RBI and a run scored Wednesday against Detroit.

Perez drilled a two-run home run in the first inning, his sixth of the season. He followed that up with a double five frames later, and ultimately accounted for three of the four runs the Royals scored. Since returning from the injured list, Perez has collected 11 hits in 21 at-bats while also slugging two home runs, driving in six and scoring five runs across five starts.

Perez isn't starting Wednesday against the Cubs due to a right shoulder injury, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

The 31-year-old spent time on the injured list earlier in the season with a right shoulder strain, and he's apparently still dealing with some of the effects of that injury. The initial injury presented more of a hindrance on throws, but the current issue is presenting problems on swings. Temporary manager Sandy Alomar Jr. said Perez will need to find a way to work through the discomfort, or he'll end up receiving a couple days off to recover. The team hopes he'll be ready to rejoin the lineup Thursday in Detroit.

Thaiss was optioned to the alternate training site Wednesday.

The 25-year-old received three straight starts after being recalled Sept. 8, but he didn't see the field in the past three contests. Thaiss is 3-for-21 with one home run, eight strikeouts and four walks in 25 plate appearances this year.

Perez is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs.

Perez is 0-for-10 with seven strikeouts over his past four games and will take a seat in the series finale. Austin Hedges receives the start Wednesday behind the plate for Cleveland.

Gallagher is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

Since Salvador Perez (eye) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Gallagher has predictably moved back into a reserve role. He'll be on the bench for the fifth straight game Wednesday.

Heim is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Heim had started in four of the Athletics' past six games, but he'll give way to Sean Murphy behind the dish in the series finale. Despite his recent surge in playing time, Heim still looks like the No. 2 backstop behind Murphy, who has began to heat up of late with a .391 average, four home runs and a 6:6 BB:K in September.

Sanchez went 1-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Tuesday's 20-6 rout of the Blue Jays.

His fourth-inning shot off Anthony Kay was one of six Yankee homers on the night. Sanchez has three hits in the last four games, which counts as a hot streak for him this season -- he's slashing a woeful .131/.248/.344 through 39 contests with eight home runs, 19 RBI and a 15:55 BB:K.

McCann went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored Tuesday against the Twins.

McCann drove in his first run of the contest with an RBI double in the third inning. Four frames later he popped a solo home run, his sixth long ball of the season. He has a strong .329/.389/.595 line to this point in the campaign, but has only 90 plate appearances with Yasmani Grandal getting the majority of the playing time behind the dish.

Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run Tuesday against the Rangers.

Maldonado tallied two extra-base hits in the contest, the first a double to lead off the seventh inning. One frame later, he clubbed his fifth homer of the season -- a solo shot against Jimmy Herget. It was his first home run since Sept. 3, though he still has a respectable .248/.370/.416 line with 18 runs scored and 21 RBI across 137 plate appearances to this point in the campaign.