Royals bolster pitching options for final week of season; Starling put on injured list
With just five days remaining in the pandemic-shortened season, the Kansas City Royals added a pair of pitchers to the roster who were projected to be key pieces of their rotation heading into spring training.
The Royals recalled right-handed pitcher Jakob Junis and activated left-hander Mike Montgomery from the injured list prior to Wednesday night’s series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium. Both Junis and Montgomery were expected to be available to pitch out of the bullpen.
The club also reinstated outfielder Franchy Cordero from the IL. Cordero, acquired in July from the San Diego Padres in the Timmy Hill trade, had been on the IL with a right wrist sprain.
Rookie starter Brady Singer lasted just three innings in Tuesday night’s loss, the second consecutive outing in which a starting pitcher didn’t make it through four innings after Carlos Hernandez pitched 3 2/3 innings in Monday’s win over the Cardinals. The Royals (22-33) were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday night.
The need for fresh arms became more pronounced when right-handed reliever Kyle Zimmer left Tuesday night’s game with discomfort. While initial indications were that Zimmer’s ailment wasn’t serious, manager Mike Matheny said Tuesday night the club would be very cautious.
The Royals placed Zimmer on the injured list with right elbow ulnar neuritis on Wednesday, and also optioned infielder Erick Mejia to make room for Montgomery and Junis. Bubba Starling went on the IL with right lower back spasms, which made room for Cordero.
Junis, who last pitched in place of Danny Duffy in Detroit on Sep. 15, has had a herky-jerky season. He began the pandemic-shortened season on the injured list after he contracted the coronavirus and got a late start to spring training 2.0. He also spent time on the IL due to back spasms, and he had a start cut short after a line drive hit him in the bicep.
Junis, 28, posted an 0-2 record in six starts with a 6.94 ERA, 16 strikeouts and a 1.67 WHIP in 23 1/3 innings.
Montgomery, a former Royals draft pick and veteran pitcher as both a reliever and starter, entered this winter poised for his first full season as a member of the starting rotation after rejoining the organization via last summer’s Martin Maldonado trade with the Chicago Cubs.
In his 13 starts for the Royals last season after having pitched in relief for the Cubs, Montgomery posted a 4.64 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and a 2.43 strikeout-to-walk ratio while compiling a 2-7 record. In the last nine starts of 2019, Montgomery posted a 3.94 ERA with 42 strikeouts, 16 walks and 55 hits in 48 innings.
Montgomery, 31, pitched through lat soreness late in spring training 2.0, and he made just one start this season before he went on the IL and eventually moved to the 45-day IL due to the lat strain.
In his one start, Montgomery allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits in two innings in Detroit.
