Kansas City Royals right-hander Zack Greinke has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder tendinitis, the team announced on Wednesday. Greinke was pulled early from his last start after experiencing discomfort. In that game against the Minnesota Twins, he gave up six runs in 5 1/3 innings before leaving the mound with assistance from a team athletic trainer. Greinke has returned to Kansas City for a physician consultation.
Manager Matt Quatraro expressed confidence that Greinke’s injury is minor and the team is hopeful that he will only miss one start, especially with the All-Star break approaching next week. The Royals have recalled right-hander Dylan Coleman from Triple-A Omaha to take Greinke’s spot on the roster.
The Royals are considering options to fill Greinke’s spot in the rotation for Sunday’s game. Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, who has been out of action since May 7 due to facial fractures caused by a line drive, is a potential candidate to come off the injured list and start against the Cleveland Guardians. Alternatively, the Royals might opt for a bullpen game, utilizing multiple pitchers to cover the innings.
Greinke, 39, has struggled to secure a road win for quite some time, with his last victory away from home dating back to August 13, 2021. Over his past 26 road starts, he has an 0-15 record and a 6.39 ERA. This season, his ERA stands at 5.44, nearly two runs higher than his career average.