KC Royals pitchers Jeremy Guthrie, Jason Vargas switch starts

Jermey Guthrie and Jason Vargas switched places in the Royals starting rotation, with Guthrie going Sunday against the Tigers and the left-handed Vargas set to start the series opener against the Indians on Tuesday.

“I looked at the matchups,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “But (Detroit) is a predominantly right-handed team and Cleveland is a predominantly lefthanded team.”

From a rest standpoint, the switch worked because Sunday was Guthrie’s regular day. Vargas (2-1) hasn’t pitched since throwing against the Indians on April 27.

Vargas will square off against the Indians’ Danny Salazar (3-0). On Wednesday, Danny Duffy (2-0) pitches for the Royals against Carlos Carrasco (3-2) and Thursday, in a game that starts at 1:10 p.m., the Royals’ Edinson Volquez (2-3) pitches against Corey Kluber (0-4).