Danny Duffy faces Athletics, competes for last spot in rotation

The Royals shipped three more pitchers out of camp on Friday morning. Justin Marks was optioned to Class AAA Omaha. Scott Alexander and Everett Teaford were re-assigned to minor-league camp.

Here is the lineup as Danny Duffy faces the Athletics:

1. Nori Aoki, RF.

2. Omar Infante, 2B.

3. Eric Hosmer, 1B.

4. Justin Maxwell, DH.

5. Alex Gordon, LF.

6. Mike Moustakas, 3B.

7. Lorenzo Cain, CF.

8. Brett Hayes, C.

9. Pedro Ciriaco, SS.

Two days ago, Yordano Ventura torched this same team. But manager Ned Yost explained that should not place more pressure on Duffy, who is competiting with Ventura for the last spot in the rotation.

"I don’t really believe too much in pressure," he said. "Pressure is the stuff you put on yourself. You just go out and do your job."

This story was originally published March 14, 2014 at 11:20 AM with the headline "Danny Duffy faces Athletics, competes for last spot in rotation."