Royals' Salvador Perez out with illness in series opener against Rangers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals scratched catcher Salvador Perez from the starting lineup of their series opener against the Texas Rangers on Monday night because of an illness.

Perez was supposed to catch for starter Michael Wacha and bat fifth in the opener of an important four-game set between teams clinging to wild-card hope. Luke Maile will be behind the plate instead and bat eight in the lineup.

Perez, a nine-time All-Star, is hitting .244 with 22 homers and 70 RBIs this season.

Maile has become the primary backup in Kansas City after it sent Freddy Fermin to the Padres ahead of last month's nonwaiver trade deadline. But he has only appeared in 11 games this season, hitting .250 with a homer and two RBIs.

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Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez hits an RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

TOKYO (AP) — Participants gathered in Tokyo on three occasions to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year’s ritual.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Participants carry a portable shrine 'mikoshi', during the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A participant during the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Participants prepare for the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Participants throw rice cakes to the public after the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Members of the public try to catch rice cakes thrown after the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Participants pray after pouring cold water over themselves to purify their souls and wish for good health during a New Year's ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A participant pours cold water over himself to purify his soul and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Participants pray after bathing in ice-cold water to purify their souls and wish for good health during a New Year ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)