Perez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.
Perez will catch a breather Saturday after going 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in Friday's series opener. Carter Jensen will handle catching duties for the Royals instead while Isaac Collins starts as the DH and Lane Thomas patrols left field.
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Royals' Lane Thomas: Quiet start to 2026
Rotowire
Thomas is 3-for-23 (.130 average) with a double, an RBI, two runs scored, a stolen base and a 5:7 BB:K through 12 games this season.
Brought in on a one-year, $5.25 million deal in the offseason, Thomas has started just six of the Royals' first 16 games, with four of those six starts coming against left-handed pitching. Thomas is at least taking his walks, but manager Matt Quatraro seems to prefer an outfield configuration of Isaac Collins, Kyle Isbel and Jac Caglianone from left to right, and he's also mixing in Michael Massey in left field on occasion. For now, it appears Thomas will be stuck in a short-side platoon role for Kansas City.
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Royals' Lane Thomas: Fully healthy after foot surgery
Rotowire
Thomas said Thursday that he's fully healthy after surgery last September to address plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Sports Radio 810 WHB reports.
Thomas played only 39 contests in 2025 due to nagging plantar fasciitis issues before he eventually went under the knife, but he's full-go early on in Royals camp. Signed to a one-year, $5.25 million contract this offseason, Thomas could see the lion's share of playing time in left field for Kansas City this season. He'll have to prove he still has something in the tank, however, after hitting just .160/.246/.272 during his disastrous 2025 campaign.
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Royals' Lane Thomas: Links up with Royals
Rotowire
Thomas (foot) signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Royals on Thursday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Injuries limited Thomas to playing in just 39 games with the Guardians in 2025, as he missed time at the start of the year with a wrist issue before plantar fasciitis in his right foot ended his season in July. When the 30-year-old was healthy, he struggled to produce at the plate, slashing just .160/.246/.272 over 142 plate appearances. Despite his struggles, Thomas should be able to capture a starting job in a Royals outfield that lacks depth following Mike Yastrzemski's departure.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Plays full game as DH
Rotowire
Thomas (foot) served as the designated hitter, going 0-for-3 for Double-A Akron on Friday. He was also hit by a pitch.
Thomas, who began a rehab assignment with Akron earlier this week, played a full nine innings for the first time. The Guardians likely want to see him in the field for a full game before entertaining thoughts of activating him. Thomas has been sidelined since July 6 with plantar fasciitis.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Plays field in rehab game
Rotowire
Thomas (foot) started in center field and went 0-for-2 with a walk for Double-A Akron on Wednesday.
Thomas, who began a rehab assignment Tuesday as the designated hitter, played his first game in the field. He was removed after five innings, but as the RubberDucks' leadoff batter, Thomas was able to get three plate appearances. He's going to get Thursday off, per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. The plan is to build up to playing a full nine innings, at which point he could be added to the Guardians roster. Thomas has been out since July 6 with plantar fasciitis.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Thomas (foot) served as the designated hitter and went 0-for-3 for Double-A Akron on Tuesday.
Thomas kicked off a rehab assignment with the RubberDucks on Tuesday and will continue Wednesday, when he's expected to play five innings in the outfield. He's been sidelined by plantar fasciitis since the beginning of July. The Guardians' top affiliates -- Akron and Triple-A Columbus -- both have plenty of games left in the regular season, so Thomas will have plenty of opportunity to build up plate appearances after the long layoff.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Takes batting practice
Rotowire
Thomas (foot) took on-field batting practice Monday, MLB.com reports.
Thomas has participated in various baseball activities recently, but the Guardians still have no timetable for his potential return. The club is hopeful for a return at some point in September.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Has new rehab plan
Rotowire
Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said Monday that Thomas (foot) met with a doctor and has a new rehab plan in place, MLB.com reports.
Vogt described Thomas' plantar fasciitis as a "complicated case," and his return is taking longer than expected as the foot hasn't responded to treatment. The report estimates a potential return to the field in September. In the meantime, Angel Martinez has filled in as the Guardians' primary center fielder.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Progressing slowly
Rotowire
Thomas (foot) is doing baseball activities but is progressing "a little slower" than originally hoped, MLB.com reports.
Thomas, who was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to July 5, received an injection during the All-Star break. This is his third stint on the IL this season and second because of the foot.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Back on IL with plantar fasciitis
Rotowire
The Guardians placed Thomas on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Cleveland recalled infielder Will Wilson from Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move, but Angel Martinez is likely to serve as the Guardians' primary option in center field while Thomas is on the shelf. The 30-year-old outfielder is on the IL for the third time this season and for the second straight time with the same injury. He previously missed about two weeks in late May and early June with the foot issue.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Removed early Friday
Rotowire
Thomas was removed from Friday's game against the Tigers due to mild plantar fasciitis symptoms, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Thomas went 0-for-2 in Friday's contest before his foot forced him to make an early exit in the sixth inning. It remains to be seen how much time, if any, the 29-year-old will miss, though the Guardians should provide more details in the near future.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Goes deep in loss
Rotowire
Thomas went 2-for-4 with a walk and a three-run home run in Tuesday's 10-6 loss to the Blue Jays.
Thomas, who went 3-for-26 (.115) during the Guardians' recent road trip, returned to Cleveland on Tuesday and popped a home run for the second straight game at Progressive Field. He's battled a couple of injuries early this season that have limited Thomas to a mere 30 games. He's currently in his longest stretch of good health this season. Thomas has a .237/.341/.395 line with two home runs, six RBI, two steals and four runs over 13 games since returning from his most recent injury.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Not in Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Thomas is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Reds.
The Reds are sending left-hander Andrew Abbott to the bump, so this is likely more about easing Thomas back into action after he returned from the injured list Monday. Nolan Jones is in center field for the Guardians.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Productive in return
Rotowire
Thomas went 1-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Reds.
It was Thomas' first appearance since May 26 following his second stint on the injured list this season, and he made his presence felt right away. Monday marked the first time all year that the speedy outfielder drew multiple walks, and he also stole his second base across 18 games this year. Thomas has mostly struggled at the plate -- he's hitting .129 with a lone extra-base hit and three RBI through 62 at-bats -- but it was encouraging to see him bat second in Cleveland's order for the fifth time in 2025.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Resumes running
Rotowire
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Wednesday that Thomas (foot) resumed running for the first time since being placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Thomas was diagnosed with right foot plantar fasciitis, but the Guardians don't anticipate a long stint on the IL, which suggests the 29-year-old outfielder may avoid a rehab assignment. Thomas was slashing .119/.169/.136 with one steal and three RBI over 65 plate appearances prior to his placement on the IL.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Lands on IL with foot injury
Rotowire
The Guardians placed Thomas on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 27, due to right foot plantar fasciitis, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Thomas was set to be out of the lineup for a third straight game, and his foot injury is severe enough for him to require a stint on the injured list for the second time this season. A corresponding move has yet to be announced, but Angel Martinez should see the bulk of the starts in center field for as long as Thomas is on the shelf. Thomas is slashing .119/.169/.136 with one steal and three RBI over 65 plate appearances this season.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Sitting again Friday
Rotowire
Thomas (foot) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.
It's the third straight game on the bench for Thomas as he continues to deal with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Angel Martinez will receive another start in center field Friday for the Guardians.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Dealing with injury
Rotowire
Thomas is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Thomas was left out of Cleveland's starting nine for a second consecutive game Wednesday, and it's now known that his absence is due to injury. The center fielder is having the injury looked at Wednesday, and he's expected to be day-to-day. The Guardians are off Thursday before starting a three-game homestand Friday against the Angels. Angel Martinez will patrol center field Wednesday.
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Guardians' Lane Thomas: Serves as DH
Rotowire
Thomas started at designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Monday's 7-2 loss to the Dodgers.
Thomas moved from center field to DH as part of the domino effect created by Carlos Santana's leg injury. Kyle Manzardo covered first base for the injured veteran and Thomas slipped into the fifth spot in the order. Thomas is now hitless (0-for-14) in four games since coming off the injured list and saw his season average drop to .119 (7-for-59).
