Royals closer Greg Holland returns; Danny Duffy throws without pain

Royals manager Ned Yost said before Friday’s game against Boston at Kauffman Stadium that closer Greg Holland is ready to pitch.

Yost said Holland was available Thursday, but he didn’t throw. The plan is to use him in a less pressure situation for his first appearance since Sept. 3, when he experienced stiffness in his right triceps after collecting his 42nd save.

“What we’re going to try and do is give him a lower-leverage situation,” Yost said, “maybe the seventh or eighth inning depending on the score, just to get him acclimated to pitching again after a week.

“If he feels good after that right back into the closer’s spot.”

Starter Danny Duffy threw 30 pitches from 75 feet on Friday and said he felt no pain. He suffered rotator cuff inflammation and threw one pitch last Saturday against the Yankees.

Duffy could throw a side session on Saturday and “if it all goes well, we’ll see what happens on Tuesday,” Yost said.

Tuesday against the White Sox would be Duffy’s next scheduled start. Liam Hendiks took over that spot against the Yankees and on Thursday without success. In combined 6 1/2 innings, Hendriks allowed 11 hits and five earned runs. He took the loss in both games.

This story was originally published September 12, 2014 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Royals closer Greg Holland returns; Danny Duffy throws without pain."