The Royals introduced that right-hander Hunter Harvey has been positioned on the 15-day injured listing (retroactive to August 7) as a consequence of mid-back tightness. Proper-hander Carlos Hernandez was known as up from Triple-A within the corresponding transfer.
The again downside has saved Harvey from pitching since August 4, so he’ll get the utmost three days of backdated IL placement time factored into an extended stint on the sidelines. Clearly Harvey and the Royals have been hopeful that some relaxation would permit for Harvey to heal with out the necessity for a visit to the injured listing, however right this moment’s information continues that has been a shaky starting to the reliever’s tenure in Kansas Metropolis.
Acquired from the Nationals slightly below a month in the past, Okay.C. paid a hefty worth to land the righty, giving up each notable infield prospect Cayden Wallace in addition to the thirty ninth total choose within the 2024 draft (the Royals’ Aggressive Stability Spherical choice, that are the one forms of draft picks that may be traded). The Royals have been hoping that Harvey might assist solidify their bullpen, however he has to this point posted a 6.35 ERA in 5 2/3 innings over 4 appearances, with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts.
These numbers are starkly totally different from the 4.20 ERA, 26.3% strikeout charge, and 6.3% stroll charge Harvey posted in 45 innings for Washington previous to the commerce. The small pattern measurement of Harvey’s time with the Royals should be thought-about, in fact, plus some further misfortune within the type of a .389 BABIP since he went from D.C. to Okay.C. Nonetheless, whereas most secondary metrics indicated that Harvey pitched higher with the Nats than his 4.20 ERA indicated, he’s close to the underside of the league with a 48.3% hard-hit ball charge.
It could possibly be that each one of that tough contact was certain to meet up with Harvey ultimately, and it absolutely hasn’t helped that he may’ve been nursing a nasty again throughout a few of this time. Harvey has a protracted harm historical past principally associated to arm issues moderately than again points, so hopefully a 15-day absence will totally right the issue.
Harvey joins a number of different Royals relievers on the IL, as John Schreiber and Dan Altavilla are anticipated again roughly across the finish of August and the crew is hopeful Josh Taylor can return sooner or later in September. The accidents haven’t helped the Royals’ efforts to each enhance their bullpen outcomes or their broader purpose of reaching the playoffs, and with Harvey out, it places extra strain on James McArthur and new arrival Lucas Erceg to carry the fort in high-leverage conditions.