Kansas City Royals starter Michael Lorenzen exited in the second inning Tuesday night against the host Cleveland Guardians due to a left hamstring strain, but the ailment isn’t believed to be serious.
The right-hander apparently sustained the injury earlier in the frame covering first base while trying to convert a 3-6-1 double play. Lorenzen stayed in the game after that play and struck out Cleveland’s Lane Thomas.
However, he left with a 1-0 count on Bo Naylor, who fanned against Carlos Hernandez to end the frame. Lorenzen limited the Guardians to one hit and one walk in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Following the game, a 6-1 Kansas City win, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that he believes the injury is “mild,” but he doesn’t expect Lorenzen to be able to pitch when it’s his turn in the rotation again. Lorenzen will head back to Kansas City on Wednesday to get an MRI.
Lorenzen, 32, is 2-0 with a 1.85 ERA in five starts since the Royals acquired him from the Texas Rangers.
In 24 appearances (23 starts) this season overall, Lorenzen is 7-6 with a 3.43 ERA.
With Tuesday’s victory, the Royals jumped into a first-place tie with Cleveland atop the American League Central. Kansas City owns the tiebreaker by way of a 7-2 advantage in the season series with the Guardians.
–Field Level Media
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