Royals' Salvador Perez Sits Out Saturday's Game

Catcher gets a day off after going 0-for-4 in series opener against Yankees

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:04pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of blue, conceptually representing the strategic decision to rest a star baseball player.A fragmented, cubist-inspired illustration captures the strategic decision to rest a star player during the grind of the MLB season.Kansas City Today

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez will not be in the lineup for Saturday's game against the New York Yankees. Perez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Friday's series opener and will be replaced behind the plate by Carter Jensen, while Isaac Collins starts as the designated hitter and Lane Thomas plays left field.

Why it matters

Perez is a key offensive contributor for the Royals, so his absence from the lineup could impact the team's chances of winning against the division-rival Yankees. However, it's common for managers to give star players occasional days off to rest, especially during the grind of a long MLB season.

The details

Perez, the Royals' starting catcher, struggled at the plate in Friday's game, going hitless in four at-bats and striking out twice. Manager Mike Matheny has decided to give the veteran a breather on Saturday, with backup catcher Carter Jensen getting the start instead.

  • Perez went 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts in Friday's series opener against the Yankees.
  • The Royals and Yankees play the second game of their series on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Salvador Perez

The Royals' starting catcher and a key offensive contributor for the team.

Carter Jensen

The Royals' backup catcher who will start behind the plate on Saturday.

Isaac Collins

Royals player who will start as the designated hitter on Saturday.

Lane Thomas

Royals player who will start in left field on Saturday.

Mike Matheny

Manager of the Kansas City Royals.

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The takeaway

Resting star players like Perez is a common strategy for MLB managers, especially during the grind of a long season. While his absence could impact the Royals' chances on Saturday, it's likely a calculated move to keep Perez fresh for the team's upcoming games and series.