MLB Player News

Perez was removed from Friday's game versus the Rays due to cramps in his right hamstring.

Perez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run prior to his exit. Freddy Fermin entered the game in the sixth inning and would likely see a bump in playing time if Perez is forced to miss any additional time beyond Friday. Perez has been one of the Royals' best players, hitting .270 with 15 homers and 39 RBI over 69 contests this season.

Murphy went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Friday's 13-1 win over the Mariners.

The backup catcher made his first start since last weekend and took advantage of the opportunity with his third home run of the season. Cal Raleigh is having another solid year behind the plate for Seattle, so Murphy should remain in a secondary role for the foreseeable future.

Diaz went 3-for-5 with a grand slam in Friday's 7-4 win over the Angels.

Diaz has four multi-hit efforts, three home runs and 11 RBI over his last 10 contests. He was clutch Friday, as his eighth-inning slam gave the Rockies their first lead since the opening frame. The catcher is up to nine homers in 67 contests, matching his total from 105 games a year ago. He's also slashing an excellent .293/.347/.477 with 40 RBI, 27 runs scored, 14 doubles and a triple in 2023.

Campusano (thumb) will catch a bullpen session Saturday and has been taking full swings at the plate, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Campusano isn't expected back until mid-July, but he seems to be recovering nicely from the thumb surgery he underwent May 12. The 24-year-old backstop was slashing .238/.227/.429 through 22 plate appearances prior to injury and figures to head out on a rehab assignment before returning to the active roster.

Thaiss is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Rockies.

Thaiss will take a seat as the Angels face off with left-hander Kyle Freeland. Chad Wallach will draw the start at catcher and bat eighth in the series opener with Colorado.

Grandal (knee) is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Red Sox.

Grandal will miss a second straight game Friday as he nurses a sore right knee. Seby Zavala will enter the lineup at catcher and bat ninth in the series opener with Boston.

Naylor will sit Friday versus the Brewers.

Naylor will remain on the bench for a second straight game as Milwaukee sends left-hander Wade Miley to the mound. Cam Gallagher will draw the start behind the plate and bat ninth.

Heim is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Yankees.

Heim will take a seat after he went 3-for-13 with a homer, five RBI and two runs scored over the three-game series with the White Sox. Mitch Garver will slot in at catcher while Robbie Grossman enters the lineup at designated hitter and bats sixth in the series opener with New York.

Ruiz went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Thursday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Getting the nod at DH and batting fifth, Ruiz produced his fourth multi-hit performance in his last nine starts. The switch-hitting catcher is batting .297 (11-for-37) over that stretch, pushing his slash line on the season to .240/.300/.389 with a career-high eight homers in 250 plate appearances as the Nationals continue to give the 24-year-old a heavy workload.

Sanchez went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and two runs scored in Thursday's win over the Giants.

Sanchez broke out of his recent slump in a big way, crushing a three-run shot to center field in the first inning to put the Padres up 3-0. He would later add two singles while also coming around to score a second time, giving him his first three-hit performance of the season. The catcher had gone 0-for-18 over his previous seven games, but he now has six homers and 17 RBI in June to go along with 10 runs scored.