Trout hits 300th homer, Angels rally to take 2 from Astros
SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
MICHAEL PÉREZ
Knocks in three Perez went 1-for-4 with a three-run double in a win over the Marlins on Friday.
Impact The young backstop played a key role in the narrow in, as his fourth-inning two-bagger snapped a 2-2 tie and capped a four-run rally for the Rays. Perez has now hit safely in four of his last six starts, but he's still slashing just .173/.228/.250 for the season.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Orioles end 19-game losing streak against Yankees
SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Receives Wednesday off Perez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Impact After starting behind the plate in the first two games of the series, Perez will give way to Kevan Smith in the finale. Perez is expected to serve as the Rays' top backstop for the foreseeable future with Mike Zunino (oblique) on the shelf.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Rays' Cash makes threat after Chapman's 101 mph brush back
Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman threw a 101 mph fastball near the head of pinch-hitter Michael Brosseau while closing out his first save of the season, prompting the benches to empt...SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Heads to bench Perez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Impact Though he's resting in the series finale, Perez is expected to occupy the strong side of a platoon with Kevan Smith behind the dish after Mike Zunino (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday. Perez is slashing .186/.217/.473 on the season and probably won't warrant attention outside of AL-only formats or mixed leagues that start two catchers.
AUGUST 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Yarbrough pitches into the 7th as Rays beat Marlins 2-0
Ryan Yarbrough and two relievers combined on a five-hitter, and AL East leader Tampa Bay won its third game in a row by beating the Miami Marlins 2-0AUGUST 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dominic Smith hits key homer as Mets beat Yankees 6-4
AUGUST 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Delivers clutch homer Perez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Orioles.
Impact Perez delivered his first home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth inning to supply the game-winning run. The start was Perez's first since August 21. Through 38 plate appearances this season, he is hitting .171/.211/.257.
AUGUST 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Perez homer carries AL East-leading Rays past Orioles 4-3
AUGUST 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Perez's 1st HR a big one as Rays eek past O's The Rays didn’t play their cleanest game of the season on Wednesday, but they were still able to come away with a 4-3 win over the Orioles a...
AUGUST 27, 2020 • MLB.COM
Blue Jays beat Rays 6-5 in 10 for 6th straight win
Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each drove in a run during the 10th inning to help the Toronto Blue Jays win their sixth consecutive game, 6-5 over the Tampa Bay Rays on Frida...AUGUST 22, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lowe, Meadows lead Rays to a 6-3 win over Yankees.
AUGUST 19, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lowe leads Rays past Yankees 6-3 in series opener
Brandon Lowe homered for the fifth time in six games, Austin Meadows also connected and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL East-leading New York Yankees 6-3AUGUST 19, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Headed for more playing time Perez is projected to start seeing a greater share of playing time in his platoon with fellow backstop Mike Zunino, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "Mikey (Perez) has d...
Impact Perez's .176/.250/.176 line is almost as poor as Zunino's .088/.225/.206 slash, as the Rays are simply getting minimal offensive production from the catcher position no matter who they turn to. However, Perez has actually delivered four RBI on just three hits, and his solid play behind the plate defensively coupled with Zunino's struggles has earned him two starts in the last three games.
AUGUST 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Plates pair in one-run win Perez went 2-for-5 with a two-run single and a run in a win over the Red Sox on Monday.
Impact Operating out of the bottom of the order, Perez came through with a clutch single in the fourth inning that brought the Rays to within a run after an early 4-0 deficit. The backup catcher has made his presence felt with the bat in recent games, as he provided what turned out to be a game-winning sacrifice fly Friday against the Yankees and then laced a walkoff single versus New York on Sunday as well. Given that primary backstop Mike Zunino is now slashing an unsightly .097/.222/.226 over his first 13 games, it's conceivable the left-handed hitting Perez sees more opportunities against right-handed pitching with the short season restricting how long managers can give struggling players a chance to break out of slumps.
AUGUST 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Kiermaier, Margot lead hit parade as Rays beat Red Sox 8-7
Kevin Kiermaier hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh inning, Manuel Margot had four hits and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 8-7AUGUST 11, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fight mars A's 9th straight win, 7-2 over Astros
AUGUST 10, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hits game-winning sac fly Perez came on as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning against the Yankees on Friday and hit what would prove to be a game-winning sacrifice fly.
Impact The young backstop carried out his role effectively, with his flyball to center plating Yoshi Tsutsugo with the only run of the night. Perez is still seeing very sporadic action -- he has only two starts on the season -- but he's firmly locked in as Mike Zunino's primary backup behind the dish.
AUGUST 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Rays hold Yankees to 2 hits in 1-0 win
AUGUST 8, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Perez hits sac fly in the 8th, Rays beat Yankees 1-0
Pinch-hitter Michael Perez hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning on his 28th birthday, six Tampa Bay pitchers combined on a two-hitter and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL East-le...AUGUST 8, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Scores run in start Perez went 0-for-2 with a run scored Tuesday in the Rays' 5-1 win over the Red Sox.
Impact Starting for just the third time in 11 games, Perez cracked the lineup while Mike Zunino received a day off. Though Perez came around to score after being hit by a pitch, he continued the general trend of Rays catchers offering little production at the plate. Zunino is hitting just .087 on the season, while Perez has gone hitless through his first six at-bats of the campaign.
AUGUST 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Joins 40-man roster Smith was added to the Rays' 40-man roster Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Smith has been competing for a potential third catcher spot throughout camp, and he was added to the 40-man roster after Colin Poche (elbow) was placed on the 45-day injured list. The 32-year-old will begin the season as Tampa Bay's third catcher behind Mike Zunino and Michael Perez, per Juan Toribio of MLB.com.
JULY 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Showing well at camp Perez is making a strong bid for the backup catcher job in summer camp, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. "[He's] a guy that is starting to come into his own," said Rays manager Kev...
Impact Perez had slugged a pair of home runs before spring training was suspended, and he's impressed thus far in summer camp with multiple strong at-bats during simulated games. That includes Tuesday, when he laced a double off the returning Tyler Glasnow. Perez is trying to ward off a couple of capable veterans in Kevan Smith and Chris Herrmann for an Opening Day roster spot, and Cash talked up the emerging backstop as a player that could take advantage of his opportunity in similar fashion to how Travis d'Arnaud did on last year's playoff team.
JULY 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
