Royals’ Kendrys Morales dealing with sprained middle finger
The Royals’ injury toll is piling up. On the same day the club announced that third baseman Mike Moustakas was lost for the season with a torn right ACL, manager Ned Yost revealed that designated hitter Kendrys Morales could miss three to four days with a sprained right middle finger.
Morales sustained the injury during the Royals’ victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. He missed the series finale on Wednesday.
“We decided that we were going to give him the day off because Sal [Perez] was going to DH,” Yost said. “But he couldn’t have played yesterday anyway.”
Morales has battled a similar injury in the past, including spring training. But Yost said the injury calmed down during the first months of the season.
Morales is batting just .187 with a .247 on-base percentage and five homers in 45 games. His production has waned following a 2015 season in which he hit .290 with 22 homers and 41 doubles.
For now, Yost said the Royals could use outfielder Brett Eibner, called up from Class AAA Omaha on Thursday, in the designated hitter role.
Young close to returning
Right-hander Chris Young could be activated to the Royals’ 25-man roster as soon as the end of the weekend. The veteran right-hander threw a 20-pitch simulated game on Thursday afternoon, before a rainstorm delayed the start of the Royals’ series against the White Sox.
“He looked [like] vintage Chris Young,” Yost said. “Life back on his pitches; really good slider, good changeup.”
Young has been sidelined since May 10 because of a forearm strain. He became eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list earlier this week. Before the injury, Young posted a 1-5 record with a 6.68 ERA in seven starts. The Royals have discussed using Young in long relief when he returns. Yost said the Royals will determine over the next few days whether Young needs to throw another simulated game. If not, he could be activated soon.
White Sox shuffle rotation after rainout
After Thursday night’s series opener was rained out, the White Sox announced that they will keep their starting rotation the same, meaning left-handed ace Chris Sale will not pitch this weekend against the Royals.
Sale, 9-1 with a 2.26 ERA, was scheduled to start Sunday against Edinson Volquez in the series finale. The Royals and White Sox will make up Thursday’s game later this season, and Sale will be pushed back to Monday.
The Royals, meanwhile, tweaked their starting rotation. Left-hander Danny Duffy will start on Friday and Yordano Ventura will start Saturday, but Ian Kennedy is being pushed back to Monday, keeping Volquez slotted in as the Sunday starter.
This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 11:10 PM with the headline "Royals’ Kendrys Morales dealing with sprained middle finger."