Royals put closer Greg Holland (pectoral strain) on DL
The Kansas City Royalsplaced closer Greg Holland on the 15-day disabled list with a right pectoral strain on Saturday. The club also recalled righthander Yohan Pino from Triple A Omaha.
Holland first experienced pain in the muscle last weekend, when the Royals played the Angels in Anaheim. After picking up his fourth save of the season in Friday's 6–4 win over the Oakland Athletics, Holland and the team decided shutting him down for about a week would be more optimal than having him pitch through the issue.
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"It just didn't feel good," Holland said, according to MLB.com. "To be able to help us, I need to be able to pitch in back-to-back days.
"Luckily we have a deep bullpen."
Wade Davis will slide into Holland's closer role, and Kelvin Herrera is expected to move into the eighth-inning role.
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The Royals, who lost to the A's 5–0 on Saturday, are also facing an injury situation with shortstop Alcides Escobar, who sustained a mild sprain to his left knee when A's third baseman Brett Lawrie slid into him during a play at second base in Friday's game. Escobar sat out Saturday's game and the team called up infielder Orlando Calixte from Triple A Omaha for depth.
Royals righthander Yordano Ventura was ejected in the fourth inning of Saturday's game after hitting Lawrie with a pitch. The loss dropped the Royals to 8–3 on the season.
- Mike Fiammetta
