CHICAGO | It amounts to a passing of the torch tonight when the Royals send Zack Greinke to the mound against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
Greinke must now be considered the club’s top pitcher instead of Gil Meche.
“We’ve got him pitching No. 1 after the All-Star break,” manager Trey Hillman agreed. “I think, throughout the course of the season, he has been the starter who has been the most consistent for us.”
Greinke has been the club’s best starter at 7-5 with a 3.48 ERA in 19 starts. Meche has won three of his last four decisions but is 6-9 with a 4.71 ERA in 20 starts. Meche will pitch Saturday’s game.
“It made the most sense for me,” Hillman said, “because it allows our most effective starter to pitch against two different teams in our own division.”
The Royals play three home games against the Detroit Tigers after this weekend’s three-game series in Chicago.
Plans for Nuñez
Setup reliever Leo Nuñez should rejoin the Royals’ bullpen before Monday’s game against the Tigers if no problems surface during or after Thursday’s scheduled two-inning appearance for Class AA Northwest Arkansas.
Nuñez allowed two runs and four hits in one inning Sunday for Class AAA Omaha at Memphis. It was his fourth one-inning outing on a rehab assignment that began July 7.
The Royals reassigned Nuñez to Northwest Arkansas because Omaha is idle until tonight because of the Class AAA All-Star Game.
Minor details
Right-hander Julio Pimentel produced one of his better starts of the season Wednesday in his first outing since pitching one scoreless inning Sunday in the Futures Game. He allowed one run and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings in Class AA Northwest Arkansas’ 4-3 victory over Arkansas. He settled for a no-decision when the Naturals’ bullpen blew the lead before rallying for the victory.
Nomo retires
Veteran right-hander Hideo Nomo made it official Wednesday when he announced his retirement on his Web site. Nomo, 39, was released April 29 by the Royals after allowing nine runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings over three relief appearances.
“I want to continue,” Nomo told Kyoto News, “but I don’t think I can deliver a professional-level performance anymore. I believe many clubs feel the same way.”
Nomo was 123-109 with a 4.24 ERA in 12-year career with seven big-league clubs. He pitched no-hitters for the Dodgers in 1996 and for the Red Sox in 2001.
Sports psychologist hired
The Royals rehired Dr. Andrew Jacobs to serve as their sports psychologist. Jacobs previously worked for the club in the same capacity in 1990 in addition to tours with the U.S. Olympic team and numerous professional and collegiate teams.
Jacobs is based in Kansas City and has been host to a weekly sport psychology radio call-in show since 1992.
Jenks up, Carrasco down
The White Sox opened a roster spot for closer Bobby Jenks, optioning reliever D.J. Carrasco, a former Royal, to Class AAA Charlotte.
Chicago is expected to activate Jenks from the 15-day disabled list today. He has been on the DL because of bursitis near his left (non-pitching) shoulder.
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