On a day the Royals traded their backup catcher, their longtime starter remained out of the lineup.

Salvador Perez has a sprained thumb that kept him absent for the lineup for a second straight game. He is day-to-day and is available to catch Friday if need be.

The Royals open a three-game set with Baltimore at Kauffman Stadium.

“It kinda bothers me when I swing,” Perez said. “If they need me in the eighth or ninth to catch the last two innings, I can maybe do it. It’s just tough to hit.”

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