Overview
- The Royals placed left-handed reliever Matt Strahm on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation after what manager Matt Quatraro said was a ninth-inning flare-up in the previous game.
- Lefty Bailey Falter was reinstated to take his roster spot and will work as a middle-relief option after posting a 2.70 ERA at Triple-A Omaha.
- Strahm has a 3.86 ERA in 16 1/3 innings over 17 outings this season, with his four-seam fastball down to 91.1 mph and a 4.88 FIP that points to shakier underlying results.
- The loss cuts into a bullpen that ranks near the bottom of MLB with a 4.50 ERA and a 13.4% walk rate, with other late-inning options like Carlos Estevez also on the injured list.
- Past bouts of the same knee issue sidelined Strahm for about two weeks, which gives the club hope this stint will be brief.