Major League Baseball

Royals place pitcher Jason Vargas on DL

Published Jun. 13, 2015 2:21 p.m. ET

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ST. LOUIS (AP) The Kansas City Royals placed a starting pitcher on the 15-day disabled list, but not the one many had been expecting.

The move with lefty Jason Vargas, who has a strained left forearm, is backdated to June 9. Manager Ned Yost is hopeful Yordano Ventura, who was removed because of right hand weakness Friday night, can make his next start.

Ventura's injury was termed ulnar nerve irritation. Trainer Nick Kenney told Yost there was fluid around the nerve, but ''doesn't think it's going to be an issue'' and the manager believed it was a ''freak'' occurrence.

Yost believes the injuries might be caused by the pitchers batting in interleague games, putting stress on the forearm.

''The only thing we can think of that's been different for Vargas and Ventura and all of our starters is we've had to incorporate hitting in the last two weeks to get ready for these interleague games,'' Yost said

Chris Young will move up a day and start in place of Vargas in the series finale Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Joe Blanton, who worked 2 2-3 scoreless innings after Ventura was lifted Friday, is the likely starter Tuesday at Milwaukee.

Vargas (5-2), who underwent an MRI exam Friday that showed inflammation, lasted only a half-dozen pitches in a side session.

Because of days off, Yost said he won't need a fifth starter until June 26, two days after Vargas is eligible to come off the DL.

Left-hander Brandon Finnegan was recalled from Triple-A Omaha. The 22-year-old Finnegan, a first-round pick in 2014, has made five appearances in two prior stints with Kansas City, going 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA in 9 2-3 innings.

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