There was good news for the Royals on Saturday, but not great.
The results of an MRI done Friday night on Royals catcher Salvador Perez revealed he has a strained intercostal muscle on the right side of his chest. Royals manager Ned Yost breathed a little sigh of relief, because he feared that it had been an oblique injury.
"Worst case scenario, it's half the time (missed of an oblique)," Yost said. "But we won't know anything for probably 48 hours to set a time line on it."
An oblique injury means about an eight-week recovery period.
According to Innerbody.com, "intercostal muscles are a group of 22 pairs of tiny muscles found between the ribs. These muscles play a vital role in the movement of the chest during breathing. They also help to solidify the thoracic region and protect the lungs."
As Yost spoke, a tarp covered the infield at Kauffman Stadium, and a threat of heavy rain left the Royals' game Saturday against the Mariners in doubt. If the game is played, Perez likely would have to go on the disabled list, because Yost said Perez could not play.
Catcher Cam Gallagher, who is batting .294 at Class AAA Omaha, is with the team now and would be activated Saturday if there is a game.
"We have to see what the rain brings," Yost said, "and if we get rained out, we'll determine how he feels tomorrow and then make a decision. If we don't get rained out, we'll have to make a decision today. ...
"Will he be able to play tomorrow? I doubt it. But you still can't go into a game with one catcher. But we'll see. We're just glad it's not an oblique."
Perez left Friday night's game after he struck out in the sixth inning. Earlier this season, Perez dealt with tightness and soreness in the muscles near his left and right rib cage this season.
This injury was in a different spot, Yost said.
