NEW YORK — The Kansas City Royals began their trip to New York by getting 2 2/3 innings from Chris Young and two-plus innings from Kris Medlen.
Ineffectiveness was not the only thing wrong for both pitchers. It turned out both were injured.
Before Thursday’s 7-3 loss to the Yankees, Young landed on the DL with a strained forearm and was joined by Medlen, who has rotator cuff inflammation.
The injuries were the bad news but the silver lining is neither pitcher is expected to miss significant time.
“They’re not very severe,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Chris Young has a low grade forearm strain, not going to be any more than 15 days. Medlen’s got rotator cuff inflammation. I doubt it will be any more than 15 days.”
Once Young and Medlen do return, it might not be a lock for their returns to the rotation.
Young has allowed 38 hits, including 13 home runs in 32 1/3 innings while going 1-5 with a 6.68 ERA in seven starts. Medlen has allowed 30 hits in 24 1/3 innings and is 1-3 with a 7.77 ERA in six starts.
The replacements are Dillon Gee and Danny Duffy, who have starting experience and have pitched well in the bullpen.
Gee will start for Young Saturday and has a 2.61 ERA in seven appearances, including Monday when he allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings.
Duffy will start for Medlen Sunday and the left-hander has an 0.84 ERA in his last 10 appearances and a 3.00 ERA in 16 relief appearances.
They are part of a group who has a 2.83 ERA and joining a rotation who has posted a 4.91 ERA so far.
