MLB Player News

Perez went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's win over Minnesota.

Perez tallied an RBI double off starter Bailey Ober to put Kansas City up 2-0 in the first inning. The catcher has been hot at the plate with four multi-hit performances in his last seven games, recording a .690 slugging percentage over 29 at-bats. In addition, the 32-year-old has knocked in a run in six straight games.

Realmuto went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's extra-inning win over the Blue Jays.

Realmuto singled and stole second base in the bottom of the sixth inning before he took Yimi Garcia deep for a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth frame, narrowing the Blue Jays' lead to 3-1. The long ball was his 21st of the season, and the catcher has now gone deep in three straight games and seven times overall in September while recording 18 steals overall on the campaign. Since the beginning of the month, Realmuto has batted .327 with seven homers, 14 RBI, nine runs and a stolen base over 16 contests.

Maldonado went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's victory over Tampa Bay.

Maldonado ripped two singles prior to going deep for a solo shot off Dusten Knight in the top of the ninth inning. The homer was his 14th of the year and second in his last three games. Maldonado has gone 9-for-22 with two home runs, six RBI and seven runs over his last six games.

Fortes went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double in Wednesday's loss to the Cubs.

Fortes crushed a two-run homer off Marcus Stroman in the bottom of the fifth inning, delivering the Marlins a 2-0 lead. He later added a double, producing his second straight multi-hit performance. The home run was the catcher's eighth of the season and first since Aug. 24. Fortes has notched at least one hit in seven out of his last nine games, batting .306 with a home run, four RBI and seven runs scored over that stretch.

Plawecki signed a major-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old was released by the Red Sox earlier this week, and it didn't take long for him to latch on with a new team. Jonah Heim has worked as Texas' primary catcher with Mitch Garver (forearm) out for the year, and Plawecki will now enter the mix as a veteran option.

Bart isn't starting Wednesday against the Rockies.

Bart will get a day off after going 1-for-3 and scoring three runs Tuesday in Colorado. Austin Wynns will take his spot behind home plate and bat ninth.

Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Diamondbacks, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Smith will sit for the third time in the past five games, and he may continue to receive more rest down the stretch with the Dodgers holding a 9.5-game lead for the best record in the National League. Austin Barnes will start behind the plate and bat seventh Wednesday.

Raleigh (thumb) is starting behind the plate and batting sixth Wednesday against the A's.

Raleigh sat out four of the past five games due to the lingering thumb issue but will rejoin the lineup for Wednesday's matchup in Oakland. The 25-year-old is 2-for-19 with two walks, a run and 10 strikeouts in his past six contests.

Thaiss will start at catcher and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

He's behind the plate for the third time in four games and appears to have settled in as the Angels' preferred option at catcher ahead of the struggling Max Stassi, who is hitting .109 with a 31.8 percent strikeout rate since the beginning of August. Thaiss hasn't dazzled since being called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Aug. 25, but his .233/.306/.372 slash line in 17 games over the past month is a marked improvement from what Stassi has provided the Angels.

Stassi isn't starting Wednesday against the Rangers.

Stassi went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts Tuesday and will head to the bench for the third time in the last four games. Matt Thaiss will take over behind the plate and bat sixth.