Salvador Perez News: Returning to lineup Sunday

Perez (hip) will serve as the Royals' designated hitter and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Kansas City held Perez out of the lineup for the first two games of the series due to a sore left hip he sustained Thursday, but the 34-year-old has evidently displayed enough improvement to make his return. The Royals haven't indicated when Perez might be ready to resume full-time duties behind the plate, however, so he could be confined to the DH spot for a few more games. Luke Maile, who's getting the start Sunday, and Freddy Fermin will pick up more work at catcher until Perez is deemed ready to play defense.