MLB notebook: Royals C Perez tears MCL on stairs

[March 29, 2018]  Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez will be sidelined four to six weeks after tearing the MCL in his left knee, manager Ned Yost told reporters on Wednesday.

Perez was injured Tuesday night when he slipped on a step while taking his suitcase upstairs at his home. Doctors diagnosed Perez with a Grade 2 tear after he underwent an MRI exam on Wednesday.

"I had my suitcase in my hand and I fell on the step and lost my balance," Perez said during a press conference. "I tried to put my foot on the floor and it slides. My knee couldn't move and then I felt a pop."

Perez, a five-time All-Star, will be replaced in the lineup by backup Drew Butera for Thursday's season opener against the Chicago White Sox.

--Expected inclement weather has led to the postponement of Thursday's season-opening game between the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds, the host Reds announced.

The opener has been rescheduled for Friday at 4:10 p.m. ET. The decision was made early due to steady and heavy rain forecasted for Thursday.

Both starting pitchers are expected to remain the same on Friday -- three-time Cy Young Award-winning right-hander Max Scherzer for the Nationals and right-hander Homer Bailey for the Reds.

--The Tampa Bay Rays have lost a part of their planned four-man rotation indefinitely as right-hander Nathan Eovaldi is set to undergo arthroscopic surgery for loose bodies in his elbow.

Eovaldi, who is looking to come back after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery in August of 2016, was placed on the 10-day disabled list along with right-hander Jose De Leon, who had Tommy John surgery earlier this month.

The Rays didn't disclose a timetable for Eovaldi's recovery from the surgery and recalled right-hander Austin Pruitt in a corresponding move.

--The New York Yankees have revealed their Opening Day starting lineup in advance of Thursday's matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays, and it includes star right fielder Aaron Judge and prized new addition Giancarlo Stanton hitting back-to-back.

 

Judge will bat second behind leadoff man and left fielder Brett Gardner and will be followed by Stanton, who will serve as the team's designated hitter. Catcher Gary Sanchez is hitting cleanup, center fielder Aaron Hicks is slotted fifth and shortstop Didi Gregorius will hit sixth.

Between Judge, Stanton and Sanchez, that's 144 home runs in 2017 hitting back-to-back-to-back. Needless to say, Toronto southpaw J.A. Happ (10-11, 3.53 ERA in 2017) faces a tall task.

--Tim Tebow will open his season at Double-A Binghamton, the New York Mets announced.

Multiple reports earlier this week had the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback ticketed to begin the year with the Rumble Ponies. Tebow said in a statement that he's looking forward to moving up in the organization.

"I'm excited to take the next step in my baseball career by playing for the Rumble Ponies," Tebow said. "I look forward to getting to play in front of the Binghamton fans and around the Eastern League."

--The White Sox traded for right-hander Ricardo Pinto and placed left-hander Carlos Rodon on the disabled list on the eve of their season opener against the Royals.

The White Sox acquired Pinto from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for international signing bonus pool money. Pinto, a reliever, went 1-2 with a 7.89 ERA in 25 games for the Phillies last season. Chicago assigned Pinto to Advanced Single-A Winston-Salem.

Rodon (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to March 26. He was limited to just 12 starts last season due to injuries and underwent shoulder surgery in September. He went 2-5 with a 4.15 ERA. The White Sox also placed catcher Kevan Smith (sprained left ankle) on the 10-day disabled list.

--Field Level Media

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