MLB Player News

Rays catcher Curt Casali (hamstring) worked out on the field prior to Sunday's game, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Casali did some running and a few other general exercises, but it's not clear if the Rays plan on having him back in the final week of the regular season. The team has been splitting the playing time at catcher fairly equitably of late between J.P. Arencibia and Luke Maile.

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt (thumb) remains out of the lineup Friday against the Marlins, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

A jammed left thumb, suffered last weekend, will keep Bethancourt out of the lineup for a fourth straight game. Bethancourt had two three-hit games in the span of four starts earlier this month, after turning in just five multi-hit efforts in the first five months of the season.

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt (thumb) is not in the starting lineup Thursday. Prior to the injury, Bethancourt was playing about every other game, so the fact that he's not in the lineup isn't surprising.

Until he is fully healthy, A.J. Pierzynski will continue to get the majority of the starts behind the plate.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez (knee) is in the starting lineup Thursday against the Mariners. 

Perez was taken out of Wednesday's game for precautionary reasons after injuring his knee, but's it's clear the injury wasn't too serious. He will bat eighth in the order against Mariners' starter James Paxton.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal is out of the lineup Thursday, SB Nation's Eric Stephen reports. As is usually the case, A.J. Ellis will get the start at catcher and hit sixth Thursday with Clayton Kershaw on the mound.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was removed from Wednesday's game for precautionary reasons with a bruised left knee, Joel Goldberg of FSKC reports.

Further details regarding Perez's injury were not disclosed, but the setback does not seem serious, so he should have a chance to play Thursday.

Angels catcher Carlos Perez is back in the lineup, batting eighth and starting behind the plate. 

While Perez's numbers over the whole season are not great, as he's hitting for a .246/.296/.338 slash line, he's been on fire in September. This month, he's hitting .372 with seven runs scored. He replaces Chris Iannetta in the starting lineup.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is not in the lineup Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Rubin reports. Manager Terry Collins confirmed d'Arnaud is simply getting the night off. Kevin Plawecki will get the start in his place and hit eighth in the order.

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt jammed his left thumb in Sunday's game and will now likely miss a few days while recovering, David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The initial X-rays came back negative so rest seems to be the only remedy needed for a full recovery, although he's been spotted donning a brace on his left hand. Normal starter A.J. Pierzynski will remain behind the plate for the time being with Ryan Lavarnway waiting in the wings if needed.

Rays catcher Curt Casali (hamstring) has not progressed enough to set a return date yet, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. 

Casali did add that he hopes to play again in 2015 and that he's been able to hit and catch, but this is still discouraging news. There are only two weeks left in the season, you'd think the Rays would be able to determine a timetable if he was less than a week from returning.

If he doesn't come back, he'll be ending a season in which he slugged a surprising .594, albeit in just 113 plate appearances.