David Lesky recaps the weekend and appraises the Wild Card race.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Mark Canha returned from an injury-rehabilitation assignment on Monday and was then designated for assignment, the club announced before its series-opening home game against the Texas Rangers. Canha, 36, was recovering from a left-elbow injury. He had been on the injury list since June 8, missing 32 major-league games.

The Chiefs get ready for their preseason finale and the Royals continue a hot streak at home. KCTV Sports Director Marleah Campbell and Gabe Swartz discuss.

The Kansas City Royals scratched veteran Salvador Perez, who was supposed to catch for starter Michael Wacha and bat fifth in the lineup, from the starting lineup of their series opener against the Texas Rangers on Monday night because of an illness.

When he hit his 20th home run of the season earlier this week, Kansas City Royals legend Salvador Perez continued to move up an impressive list in baseball history, as noted by Bob Nightengale of USA Today: He just set a franchise record with his ninth season hitting at least 20 homers,

Rangers first. Josh Smith grounds out to first base to Vinnie Pasquantino. Wyatt Langford strikes out swinging. Corey Seager homers to center field. Joc Pederson flies out to deep left center

The two-run shot in the eighth inning against Texas on Tuesday night merely padded the lead for Kansas City, which went on to a 5-2 victory. It was the fifth straight win for the Royals, who closed to within 2 1/2 games of an AL wild-card berth and are within nine games of the first-place Tigers in the AL Central.

Seth Lugo bounced back to throw a quality start, and Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino each homered in a 5-2 win over the Rangers Tuesday night. The Royals are four games over .500 for the first time since May 25 when they were 29-25.