MLB Player News

Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin is out of the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the White Sox. Martin had started each of the last four games for manager John Gibbons, but with R.A. Dickey on the mound, Josh Thole will draw the start behind the plate. 

Martin had just one hit (a double) in 16 at-bats during that four-game stretch. 

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was back in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Yankees after getting a chance to rest a nagging leg injury Monday. 

Perez made a pinch-hit appearance Monday, going hitless in his only at-bat to halt a hitting streak at 10 games. He is batting .361 (13 for 36) with one home run, four doubles and six RBI in his last 11 games.

Indians catcher Roberto Perez hit a three-run home run in the second inning of Monday afternoon's 10-8 loss to the Rangers. 

For Perez, it was his fourth home run of the season. He's now slashing .183/.343/.378.

Perez finished the game 1 for 3 and also drew a walk. Even with the homer, he's been in quite the slump, hitting just .143 since April 30.  

Angels left fielder Collin Cowgill, who was scratched from Sunday's lineup after injuring his hand during batting practice, is not in the starting lineup Monday against the Padres. 

X-rays were negative on Cowgill's hand, but Matt Joyce will play left for Los Angeles and hit sixth in the lineup. Carlos Perez draws the start behind the plate for the Angels and will hit seventh. 

The Angels (-140) are big favorites per VegasInsider.com. 

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has declared that he will back Saturday against St. Louis, he has told a team reporter. He added that he has passed all the required medical tests.

Grandal, who has been on the 7-day concussion disabled list, is beginning a rehab stint at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

When he returns, he will do so with a .291 average and 17 RBI.

The hip issue that has prevented Reds C Devin Mesoraco from playing since last Wednesday now has him on the 15-day disabled list, the Cincinnati Enquirer has reported.

Mesoraco is dealing with a left hip impingement. The Reds had put off the move in hopes that he could pinch-hit and eventually get back behind the plate.

The loss is another blow to a Cincinnati team that has lost eight in a row. Mesoraco, who emerged as one of the premier hitting catchers in the big leagues last season, was off to a poor start in 2015 with a slash line of .178/.275/.244. He has no home runs, two runs scored and a mere two RBI in 45 at-bats.

Shelved Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is set to play five innings in an extended spring training game Tuesday, per NJ.com.

The report further states that d'Arnaud could report to Triple-A Las Vegas in five or six days and that GM Sandy Alderson believes he could be back with the Mets as early as June 1 in San Diego, but more likely the following series against Arizona.

d'Arnaud was off to a productive start before going down with a fractured pinkie. He was batting .317 with 10 RBI in just 41 at-bats.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal will begin his Triple-A rehab assignment with Oklahoma City on Monday against Salt Lake and serve as the designated hitter, according to the Los Angeles News Group.

Grandal is currently on the 7-day DL after suffering a concussion when he took a bat to the head on Saturday. Grandal is hitting .291 with 17 RBI in 103 at-bats and could be activated as soon as he's eligible.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez has been playing through an apparent leg injury for some time, manager Ned Yost said on Sunday per FOX Sports Kansas City.

Yost called it a slight groin injury, while Perez described it as a tight left hamstring. He was given the final inning of Sunday's game off as a precaution. He went 1 for 3 with an RBI in the game and is now hitting .306 with 24 RBI on the season.

The Mets recalled infielder Danny Muno from Triple-A Las Vegas after Sunday's game and optioned catcher Johnny Monell to the same club.

Muno, who went 1 for 6 in four games with the Mets in April, has hit .280/.354/.400 with one home run, 12 RBI and three stolen bases in 100 at-bats with Las Vegas. Monell was 1 for 16 with a double in his stint with the Mets and returns to a .397/.455/.638 line with four home runs and 15 RBI in 58 at-bats with Las Vegas.