Major League Baseball

Royals to use 6-man rotation at least until break

Published Jun. 28, 2011 4:14 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Kansas City Royals plan to go with a six-man pitching rotation at least until the All-Star break.

Kyle Davies is ready to come off the disabled list and rookie Danny Duffy is pitching well enough that the Royals don't want to send him down to the minors.

Kansas City manager Ned Yost said the move is designed to help the Royals stay healthy. Besides the fact that Davies and Bruce Chen are coming off injuries, Jeff Francis is right around the number of innings he threw last year, when he was coming off left shoulder surgery that sidelined him for all of 2009.

''We feel like Duffy's been making real good strides,'' Yost said Monday. ''Kyle Davies is ready. It gives us the benefit of trying to make sure everybody stays healthy. Bruce is coming off an injury, Kyle Davies is coming off an injury, Jeff Francis is at the innings where he pitched all year last year now. It gives (Luke) Hochevar a chance to stay healthy. He dealt with some elbow problems this time last year.

''About the only guy that really doesn't benefit from it health-wise, is (Felipe) Paulino, but it's a benefit to the other five. We've never done it like this before. We thought we'd try it and see how it plays out and take it to the All-Star break and see how we like it.''

Davies has been on the DL with rotator cuff inflammation.