Royals' Perez headed for MRI on injured leg
The Kansas City Royals are hoping for good news on veteran catcher Salvador Perez, who's set to undergo an MRI after leaving Saturday's 8-7 win against the Chicago White Sox with an injured left leg.
Perez, a three-time All-Star with more innings behind the plate since 2013 than any other catcher, had to be helped off the field at Kauffman Stadium after colliding with third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert in the ninth inning and was later diagnosed with a right quad contusion.
A long-term injury to Perez would be catastrophic to a Royals team that will be without third baseman Mike Moustakas (torn ACL) for the remainder of the season and left fielder Alex Gordon (broken wrist) for the next three-to-four weeks.
Here's what else is happening all around the majors:
WHAT'S NEXT?
A day after Chase Utley dodged Noah Syndergaard's 99 mph fastball and then hit two homers, the Los Angeles Dodgers wrap a series against the New York Mets. Utley is playing at Citi Field this weekend for the first time since his late takeout slide in last year's playoffs broke the right leg of then-Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada, and Saturday's incident with Syndergaard had an air of inevitability. Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young award winner who leads the majors with a 1.48 ERA, will start against veteran right-hander Bartolo Colon.
SALE UP
Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale - who leads the American League in wins, complete games (three) and opponents' batting average (.179) - is to start the series finale for against the Royals. Sale allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings last time out against Cleveland, his first loss this year.
COOL IN COLORADO
San Francisco Giants newcomer Johnny Cueto enters his start with a streak of 18 1/3 scoreless innings against Colorado. In five career starts at Coors Field, the veteran right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.61 ERA.
CLEVELAND ROCKS
The Indians are finally in first place and try to stay there while they complete a series against Baltimore. Cleveland is atop the AL Central for the first time since winning on opening day in 2014. The Indians are 26-21, despite missing outfielder Michael Brantley and right-hander Carlos Carrasco because of injuries.
EOVALDI UP
New York Yankees hurler Nathan Eovaldi looks to extend his career-high stretch of winning four consecutive starts when he faces Tampa Bay right-hander Jake Odorizzi in the series finale. Eovaldi has a 2.16 ERA over his past four outings.
ROLLING HILL
Oakland A's left-hander Rich Hill, now 7-3 with a 2.18 ERA this season, gets the start against Detroit. He's undefeated over his past four outings and his seven wins through May are the most for an A's pitcher since Mark Mulder won eight in 2003.