Ventura's Game 1 start on Thursday was shortened to just two innings due to rain, but he will receive the start in Game 4 if the series reaches it, Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports.

Ventura allowed three runs on four hits and a walk Thursday, adding two strikeouts to the effort, but he only threw 42 pitches because of the rain. As a result of the short start, the Royals appear comfortable allowing the youngster to receive another start on short rest. However, the Royals will need to win one of the next two games in the series in order for him to see the mound again this season.

Ventura will start Game 1 of the ALDS on Thursday.

The Royals will wait to find out who they will play against in the ALDS, with the Astros and Yankees set to face off in a Wild Card matchup Tuesday. Johnny Cueto will start Game 2, with Edinson Volquez likely to take the mound in Game 3.

Ventura finished the regular season in impressive fashion Saturday, allowing just one run on four hits and three walks over seven innings while striking out 11 to pick up his 13th win.

He wrapped up 2015 with eight quality starts in his final 11 outings including three 11-strikeout performances, and Ventura will head into the postseason with an incredible head of steam.

Ventura took a no decision despite tossing seven shutout innings Monday against the Cubs. He allowed just two hits and a walk and struck out six.

Ventura was vicious, as he induced nine swinging strikes and 10 ground balls in just 94 pitches. His 78 Game Score marks his best of the season and the first time he has given up fewer than three runs in four starts. His ERA is down to 4.26 as he now has thrown consecutive quality starts after failing to do so in his previous three.

Ventura gave up three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four in six innings Wednesday against the Mariners.

After failing to finish six in each of his last three outings, it was good to see Ventura put a cap on this one even though he didn't earn a decision. His white-hot five-start stretch that occupied most of August has given way to what's now a four-start streak of lesser outings, but Ventura should make two more starts down the stretch as he tries to pull his ERA back down toward the 4.00 mark.

Ventura escaped with a win Saturday, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks over 5.2 innings while striking out five.

It wasn't pretty, but at least he got the win. Ventura has now failed to get out of the sixth inning in back-to-back outings after reeling off five straight quality starts, but he'll look for that level of consistency again Thursday in Cleveland.

Ventura will start Saturday's game against the Orioles, Andy McCullough of the KC Star reports.

Ventura was initially slated to pitch Sunday, but the Royals will instead go with Cueto on Sunday, as he apparently prefers to pitch at night. As a result, Ventura will move a day and start Saturday on four days of rest.

Ventura fell to 10-8 as he allowed four runs on eight hits and five walks over 5.1 innings Monday against the Twins. He struck out eight.

Ventura was nasty, as he induced 14 swinging strikes in his 107 pitches. But he needed every one of them to limit the damage, because Ventura couldn't find the strike zone and gave up too many hard hit balls, including a home run by Aaron Hicks. That's the 14th home run Ventura has allowed, matching his total from last year in 56 fewer innings, a big reason why his ERA has jumped from 3.20 last year to 4.34 this year.

Ventura (10-7) delivered his second straight 11-strikeout start Wednesday, giving up just one run on five hits and a walk in seven innings in a win over the Tigers.

We've been seeing a whole new Ventura over his last four outings -- one who's largely been able to rein in his walks while racking up strikeouts at the prodigious rate his stuff has always promised. The 24-year-old will draw the Twins his next time out, when he'll be looking for his seventh consecutive winning decision.

Ventura (9-7) struck out 11 over six shutout innings against the Orioles on Thursday, allowing two hits and four walks in a 5-3 victory.

The flamethrowing righty has now turned in four consecutive impressive outings, allowing just three runs in 25 innings while fanning 32 over that span. However, his control has still been a bit inconsistent -- he's got a dozen walks in the same time frame, although half of those came in his Aug. 11 start against the Tigers. That tendency for free passes is troubling, but the fact that he's been able to keep the ball in the park (one homer in those four starts) against a group of high-powered offenses is quite promising. He'll get a rematch with Detroit on Wednesday.

Ventura picked up his eighth win of the season Saturday, allowing just one run on six hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six.

It's his third straight quality start, a marked improvement on his first two outings in August when he got tagged for 11 runs in 12 innings. Ventura's numbers on the season remain weak, but he could be worth adding in shallower formats in case he's gearing up for a big stretch run.

Ventura pitched well through seven innings but didn't get the decision, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven batters in a 4-3 win over the Angels.

A home run by David Murphy and a wild pitch that plated Kole Calhoun accounted for the only runs allowed by Ventura, who seemed to fix his control commands after walking nine batters in his last two starts. It took 105 pitches, but the 24-year-old was able to make it through seven innings for the third time in five starts and has lowered his ERA to 4.82, still by far the highest mark of his career.

Ventura was wild, but able to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard for six innings in Tuesday's win.

Ventura allowed just two hits, but also walked a season-high six batters. Additionally, he matched a season-high with is eight strikeouts. This year has been a trying one for the young righty, who has now lowered his ERA back to 4.97. He'll try to control those walks in his start against the Angels this weekend.

Ventura struggled yet again Thursday, allowing six runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Tigers. He allowed eight hits and three walks while striking out three.

The young fireballer continues to struggle as he now has a 5.29 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. The bigger worry is the strikeouts, as he only has 75 in 95.1 innings, which is far less than what fantasy owners were expecting. The last two matchups at Toronto and at Detroit are very tough and worth considering, but his ownership percentage in standard mixed leagues will surely drop after yet another poor performance. He faces these same Tiers in his next start.

Ventura escaped with a win Saturday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings, striking out two.

It was another wild contest at the Rogers Centre, but despite allowing back-to-back home runs to Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista in the fifth inning, Ventura was able to record his sixth win of what has been a disappointing season. He'll try to shave down his 4.98 ERA in his next start Thursday in Detroit.

Ventura earned the win over the Houston Astros on Sunday, allowing just one run with five strikeouts and zero walks over seven strong innings.

It was Ventura's first start since being demoted and then recalled by the Royals in a one-day span, and he turned in his best start since late May. He held a potent Astros lineup in check and allowed just two extra-base hits. The flamethrower could still be dropped from the rotation following the team's acquisition of Johnny Cueto, but Sunday's start could earn him another look.

Ventura is once again at risk of being dropped from the Royals' rotation, as the team acquired Johnny Cueto from the Reds on Sunday according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Ventura was already on thin ice after allowing six earned runs on 10 hits in his last start, and was even demoted to Triple-A to help right the ship. He was called back up just a day later, however, as Jason Vargas suffered a season-ending elbow injury. The 24-year-old Ventura remains on track to start for the Royals on Sunday against the Astros, but another poor outing could send the youngster packing again. Someone needs to get bumped from the rotation following the addition of Cueto, who will immediately become the staff's ace.

Ventura was called up from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Ventura was just demoted to Triple-A on Tuesday after it appeared he'd been designated as the odd man out of the Kansas City rotation, but he'll return to the Royals a day later after the club learned Jason Vargas (elbow) has a torn left UCL. The injury will likely sideline Vargas for the duration of the 2015 season, so Ventura could remain with the big league club long-term.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday. Ventura was demoted Tuesday after a string of subpar starts, but will return to the rotation after Jason Vargas was lost for the season with an elbow injury.

Ventura was demoted to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

Jason Vargas (hip) was activated from the disabled list, and the Royals have decided to boot Ventura -- rather than Chris Young -- from the starting rotation. The team presumably hopes Ventura will pitch his way back into the rotation with a strong stint at Triple-A Omaha. It won't be too surprising if that happens, as Ventura's peripherals haven't changed too much from last season. His 3.71 SIERA and 3.68 xFIP suggest that he's quite unlucky to own a 5.19 ERA.