Salvador Perez to get MRI on knee

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was a late scratch for yesterday's Royals-Rockies game after his right knee began to tighten up. Perez will get an MRI today as a precautionary measure.

According to manager Ned Yost, Perez "felt great" during stretching before his knee began tightening up right at the start of batting practice. Perez felt the tightness in his right patella tendon region, the same area he felt a pinch in while rounding second base in the fifth inning of Monday's 6-4 win over the Twins.

Perez injured himself on Monday, and surprised most fans by appearing in the lineup the very next night at catcher against Colorado. Although the team does not believe there is any structural damage, with an off-day on Thursday, the team will use the opportunity to make sure the injury is not more serious.

Perez has caught 115 games this year, the second most in baseball.

This is probably nothing, but after the way the team seemed to botch the Eric Hosmer hand injury, there is reason to fear the worst. Why Ned Yost decided to have Sal catch the day after he had knee discomfort against one of the worst teams in baseball is beyond me. Perez has a history of knee problems, he's the heart and soul of this team and one of the most valuable players on the club. You'd think the team would be overly cautious with him. But what do I know? I'm not a baseball man close to the dirt.