Royals notebook: Back spasms sideline Guillen

- 06:32 PM CDT

CHICAGO | This is hardly the way the Royals wanted to head into their post-break schedule Friday night: having to scratch the biggest bat from their lineup. Outfielder Jose Guillen was unavailable for the series opener against the Chicago White Sox after awakening early Friday with back spasms. “He worked out three days in a row in a (batting) cage in Las Vegas,” manager Trey Hillman said. “It just started spasming up on him in the middle of the night and carried into this morning.” Guillen contacted trainer Nick Swartz and reported early for treatment at U.S. Cellular Field. Hillman had Guillen in the original lineup before making the switch to insert Esteban German in left field. Guillen is batting .270 and leads the Royals with 13 homers and 65 RBIs. “It’s not really the way we wanted to start out,” Hillman said, “having our No. 4 guy down. But it is what it is. Hopefully, we can get him ready for (Saturday).”