KANSAS CITY -- With Cole Ragans returning from the 60-day injured list on Wednesday night and limited to around 60 pitches, the Royals’ plan to cover innings was to have Michael Lorenzen pitch out of the bullpen as a piggyback reliever.
That plan changed about two hours before first pitch, when rookie starter Ryan Bergert felt right forearm tightness during his bullpen session at Kauffman Stadium.
Bergert will likely be placed on the 15-day injured list on Thursday, manager Matt Quatraro said after the Royals’ 7-5 win over the Mariners on Wednesday, and Lorenzen will slot back into the rotation on Friday night against the Blue Jays.
“Right after we talked pregame, Bergert got hurt in his bullpen,” Quatraro said. “He’s going to go on the IL, and Lorenzen will start in his place. We had to pivot in the game plan of Lorenzen throwing multiple innings, because he’ll start on Friday.”
Lorenzen tossed a scoreless inning in Wednesday’s game, needing just 12 pitches to work through the fifth inning. Without Lorenzen available to throw multiple innings, it essentially turned into a bullpen game after Ragans -- in his first start since June 5 following a left rotator cuff strain -- threw 62 pitches across 3 2/3 innings.
The Royals are expected to make the roster move for Bergert on Thursday, including a corresponding move to bring up another pitcher. Further testing will be done on Bergert’s forearm to determine severity and next steps.
But Bergert’s IL placement will end his season with just 10 games remaining on the Royals’ schedule and 11 days left in the regular season.
The 25-year-old emerged as a legitimate rotation option for the Royals’ future, though, after they acquired him and Stephen Kolek from the Padres for catcher Freddy Fermin at the July 31 Trade Deadline. Bergert posted a 4.43 ERA across eight starts for Kansas City, inflated by his final two starts in September when he allowed 11 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings. Across five starts in August, Bergert posted a 2.54 ERA and struck out 25 in 28 1/3 innings.