With rotation ailing, Royals will give Jake Junis another start

Rookie starter Jake Junis will make his third start on Sunday in San Diego, Royals manager Ned Yost confirmed on Thursday.

Junis, 24, allowed seven earned runs in 3  2/3 innings in a 9-7 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday. He issued three walks while striking out one and was harmed by an errant throw by third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert that was ruled a hit.

The Royals, however, remain down two starting pitchers as Danny Duffy recovers from a strained oblique muscle and Nathan Karns battles through a sore arm. Karns, who has not pitched since May 19, has yet to begin a rehab assignment. His recovery has been slower than anticipated. For now, the club will rely on Junis and fellow rookie Eric Skoglund, who will start on Friday night in San Diego.

“The more time I get up there, the more reps I can get and the more comfortable I can be,” Junis said. “Hopefully I go out there this time and find my release point, get ahead and throw more strikes.”

Time change for game on Sept. 12

The Royals officially moved the start of their game against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, Sept. 12 to 12:15 p.m., the club announced Thursday. The game was originally slated to begin at 7:15 p.m. and was set to conflict with a U2 concert at Arrowhead Stadium that night. The concert was announced earlier this week.

This story was originally published June 8, 2017 at 7:10 PM with the headline "With rotation ailing, Royals will give Jake Junis another start."