MLB Player News

Moreno (shoulder) started at designated hitter and went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, two RBI and two runs scored for Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Moreno began his rehab Thursday in the Arizona Complex League, catching five innings for the Diamondbacks' entry in the ACL. The club will want to see Moreno behind the plate for a full game before activating him.

Perez went 4-for-4 with one double, a home run, four RBI and two runs scored in Friday's victory over the Cardinals.

Perez opened the floodgates for Kansas City with a two-run double in the first, then followed with a solo home run in the second to put the Royals up by nine. Perez now has 17 home runs on the season but has been struggling since the start of June, entering the game with a .204 batting average to go along with just five homers and 13 RBI over that stretch. Perhaps this performance will help springboard the 33-year-old veteran to a big finish to his season.

Contreras went 3-for-3 with one double, a home run, a walk, five RBI and two runs scored in Friday's loss against the Royals.

Contreras' three-run double put the Cardinals on the board in the third and his two-run homer in the ninth served as the final runs the Cards would score on the night. Following a stretch where he reached base in 35 of his 64 plate appearances in July, Contreras has remained hot in August with a .370 average to go along with two home runs and eight RBI.

Caratini went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, one RBI and two runs scored in Friday's win over the White Sox.

Caratini contributed to Milwaukee's cause by reaching base three times, including his sixth home run of the season. The homer was the first since July 6 for the part-timer, who has produced a respectable .325 on-base percentage in 169 plate appearances.

Garver went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 win over the Giants.

Garver homered just one pitch after Nathaniel Lowe opened the scoring in the sixth inning. After a stretch where he hit safely in 12 of 13 games, Garver had gone 0-for-6 across his last two contests before snapping the mini-skid. The catcher is up to eight homers, 27 RBI, 20 runs scored, eight doubles and a .272/.349/.483 slash line over 169 plate appearances this season. He continues to see a starting role while Jonah Heim (wrist) is out, though Garver could see more time at designated hitter once the Rangers' top backstop is back.

Raleigh went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 9-2 win over the Orioles.

Raleigh continued his recent power surge -- his homer Friday was his sixth in his last 10 games. The catcher's first-inning blast set an early tone in the Mariners' favor. He's smacked a team-leading 20 long balls with 51 RBI, 54 runs scored and a .227/.310/.455 slash line through 100 contests this season.

Heim (wrist) took live batting practice again Friday in San Francisco, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Heim has been participating in daily BP sessions since Tuesday and is now expected to return to the Rangers' active roster in the early part of their upcoming homestand, which begins Monday. The 28-year-old catcher had produced a strong .816 OPS with 14 homers and 70 RBI through 90 games this season for Texas when he was diagnosed July 28 with a partially torn tendon sheath in his left wrist.

Thaiss is out of the lineup Friday against the Astros.

Chad Wallach will start behind the plate and bat ninth as the Angels take on right-hander Justin Verlander. Logan O'Hoppe (shoulder) could soon return and claim the majority of the playing time at catcher for the stretch run.

Casali (foot) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

Casali landed on the injured list July 24 with a bruised left foot and is now set to begin the final stage of his recovery process. The Reds were carrying three catchers prior to Casali getting injured, so it's possible he gets optioned to Louisville upon being reinstated so Cincinnati can maintain a traditional two-catcher roster.

Jansen (hand) is not in Friday's lineup against the Cubs.

After getting hit by a pitch Thursday, Jansen initially stayed in the game. He would later exit and was diagnosed with a right hand contusion after X-rays came up negative. Alejandro Kirk will start at catcher Friday as Jansen remains day-to-day.