MLB Player News

Cleveland manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Perez has a non-displaced fracture in his right ring finger, but the catcher is expected to play through the injury after getting a couple days of rest, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Perez will remain out of the lineup for a second straight day Sunday, allowing Austin Hedges to receive another turn behind the dish for Cleveland's series finale with the White Sox. According to Francona, Perez is expected to be ready to check back in behind the dish for Monday's game in Kansas City, and the skipper anticipates the 32-year-old backstop will make a full recovery from the non-displaced fracture in about a week or a week and a half. Even before the injury surfaced, Perez was off to a miserable start to the season at the plate; he'll take a .143 average and career-worst 36.8 percent strikeout rate into Sunday's contest.

Smith went 1-for-2 with a triple, a run and two RBI in a loss to Milwaukee on Saturday.

The backstop appeared to be getting the day off with Austin Barnes starting the game behind the plate, but the team called on him to pinch hit in the ninth inning with a runner on second and the score tied 2-2. Smith wasn't able to come up with a clutch hit in that situation, but he remained in the game and got another chance to play hero with two runners aboard in the 11th. This time the catcher came through, working a full count before lining a two-run triple to right field. While he is hitting just .234 so far this season, Smith has posted a 12:13 BB:K and a .383 OBP. His .411 xwOBA ranks in the 92nd percentile leaguewide.

Contreras will start at catcher and bat eighth Sunday against the Blue Jays.

The 23-year-old will make his first start of 2021 in the series finale with Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) landing on the 60-day injured list and Alex Jackson (hamstring) being placed on the 10-day injured list. Contreras enters Sunday with only four big-league appearances under his belt, but he's now poised to split time behind the plate with Jeff Mathis, who had his contract selected from the alternate site.

Jackson was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a strained left hamstring.

It's a tough break for Jackson since he was poised for increased playing time with Travis d'Arnaud landing on the 60-day IL with a thumb sprain. William Contreras was recalled from the alternate training site and is starting behind the plate Sunday, while the team also selected the contract of Jeff Mathis.

D'Arnaud was placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday with a sprained left thumb.

It was already known the 32-year-old was heading to the shelf after suffering the thumb injury Saturday, but the sprain is apparently severe enough to sideline him for at least the next two months. Alex Jackson (hamstring) was also placed on the injured list, severely testing the organization's depth at catcher. William Contreras was recalled from the alternate training site and is starting Sunday, while Atlanta also selected the contract of veteran Jeff Mathis.

The Blue Jays will place Kirk (hip) on the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against Atlanta, Ben Wagner of Sportsnet reports.

The transaction will clear a spot on the 26-man roster for Ross Stripling (forearm), who will be reinstated from the IL ahead of his scheduled start Sunday. Before exiting Saturday's game with a left hip flexor strain, Kirk had been off to a slow start to the 2021 season, slashing .225/.326/.475 in 46 plate appearances while serving as the No. 2 option at catcher behind Danny Jansen.

Stephenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Stephenson had caught two of the Reds' previous three games, going 3-for-8 between those contests. Though he boasts the more potent bat among the Reds' two catchers, Tucker Barnhart's superior defense should continue to earn him the overwhelming share of starts behind the dish.

Contreras (thigh) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Reds.

The 28-year-old will be sidelined for the second consecutive contest after exiting Friday's game with mild tightness in his right thigh. According to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, manager David Ross said Contreras believes his thigh is fine, but he'll go through a pregame workout Sunday in any case as he attempts to prove his health heading into the upcoming week. Tony Wolters receives another start behind the plate for Chicago while Contreras is day-to-day with the injury.

Caratini will continue to get plenty of work behind the plate despite the return of Austin Nola, Bill Center of FriarWire reports.

Nola may eventually emerge as the Padres' primary catcher, but in the short term he will essentially split time with Caratini behind the plate, according to manager Jayce Tingler. "Victor has played extremely well, he's done a great job with the staff. Also, Nola, having some issues with the finger and some swelling and things like that, I don't think we've got him built up to go four on, one-off. There's the opportunity to split some time and keep both guys active." So far this season, Caratini is slashing .230/.333/.311 with 11 RBI and a 30.6 percent strikeout rate.

Contreras will be recalled from the alternate training site Sunday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old was called up as the 27th man for last weekend's doubleheader, and he'll rejoin the major-league club Sunday with Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) heading to the injured list. Contreras and Alex Jackson will handle catching duties for Atlanta until d'Arnaud recovers from the injury.