KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Opening day is supposed to be a time when smiles come easy, when managers and players look to the long and daunting grind ahead with a profound sense of hope and optimism.Royals skipper Ned Yost wasn't having any of it.He'd lost All-Star catcher Salvador Perez for up to six weeks because of a freak knee injury. One of the key pieces in his bullpen, Nate Karns, is headed to the disabled list with elbow inflammation. And two of the club's top prospects expected to help sooner than later, infielder Adalberto Mondesi and outfielder Bubba Starling, are likewise headed to the disabled list.The Royals were also forced to designate for assignment erstwhile top prospect Kyle Zimmer, a hard-throwing pitcher whose troubling injury history has prevented him from realizing his potential.Throw in the fact that Yost prefers to get into the day-to-day grind, rather than sit through the pomp and circumstance of opening day, and he was in a particular grim mood Thursday."You kind... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals have placed All-Star catcher Salvador Perez, right-hander Nate Karns and two others on the disabled list in a series of roster moves ahead of their opener against the White Sox.Infielder Adalberto Mondesi and outfielder Bubba Starling also went on the DL on Thursday, while veteran pitcher Wily Peralta and top prospect Ryan Zimmer were designated for assignment.The moves created space for the Royals to select the contracts of right-hander Blaine Boyer and infielder Ryan Goins, and recall catcher Cam Gallagher from Triple-A Omaha.Perez is expected to miss up to six weeks after hurting his knee Tuesday night while carrying luggage in his house. Karns has elbow inflammation, Mondesi has a right shoulder impingement and Starling has a left oblique strain.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Danny Duffy is still scheduled to start on opening day for the Kansas City Royals — at this moment, anyway.A day after he exited his final spring training game because of a stiff left shoulder, Duffy said he was ready to pitch Thursday at home against the Chicago White Sox."As of now, I feel good," Duffy said Sunday. "I don't really have too many comments. I feel good to go."Duffy left in the third inning after throwing 32 pitches against an Arizona split squad. His first pitch bounced in front of the plate and his fastball velocity was 82 to 85 mph, about 10 miles less than his normal working velocity.Duffy threw only 15 innings in spring training and no more than 4 1/3 innings in any start. He was 1-1 with an 8.40 ERA, allowing 14 earned runs and 19 hits, including four home runs. He walked nine and struck out 12."I'm feeling just fine this morning," Duffy said. "I knew what it was. It's just something we didn't want to push through. Initially, I tried to get my... [More]

Capsules of National League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Chicago Cubs2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Manager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).He's Here: RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly, C Chris Gimenez.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Projected Lineup: CF Ian Happ (.253, 24 HRs, 68 RBIs, .842 OPS) or Albert Almora Jr. (.298, 8, 46), 3B Kris Bryant (.295, 29, 73, 38 2Bs, 111 runs), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.273, 32, 109, 91 BBs), C Willson Contreras (.276, 21, 74), LF Kyle Schwarber (.211, 30, 59), SS Addison Russell (.239, 12, 43), RF Jason Heyward (.259, 11, 59), 2B Javier Baez (.273, 23, 75, .796 OPS).Rotation: LH Jon Lester (13-8, 4.33 ERA, 180 Ks), RH Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03), RH Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86, 209 Ks with Rangers and Dodgers), LH Jose Quintana (11-11, 4.15, 207 Ks with White Sox and Cubs), RH Tyler Chatwood (8-15, 4.69 with Rockies).Key Relievers: RH Brandon... [More]

Capsules of National League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Chicago Cubs2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Manager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).He's Here: RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly, C Chris Gimenez.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Projected Lineup: CF Ian Happ (.253, 24 HRs, 68 RBIs, .842 OPS) or Albert Almora Jr. (.298, 8, 46), 3B Kris Bryant (.295, 29, 73, 38 2Bs, 111 runs), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.273, 32, 109, 91 BBs), C Willson Contreras (.276, 21, 74), LF Kyle Schwarber (.211, 30, 59), SS Addison Russell (.239, 12, 43), RF Jason Heyward (.259, 11, 59), 2B Javier Baez (.273, 23, 75, .796 OPS).Rotation: LH Jon Lester (13-8, 4.33 ERA, 180 Ks), RH Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03), RH Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86, 209 Ks with Rangers and Dodgers), LH Jose Quintana (11-11, 4.15, 207 Ks with White Sox and Cubs), RH Tyler Chatwood (8-15, 4.69 with Rockies).Key Relievers: RH Brandon... [More]

Capsules of American League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Cleveland Indians2017: 102-60, first place, lost to Yankees in ALDS.Manager: Terry Francona (sixth season).He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, LF Rajai Davis, RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Projected Lineup: SS Francisco Lindor (.273, 33 HRs, 89 RBIs, 44 2Bs, 15 SBs, 10 errors), 2B Jason Kipnis (.232, 12 HRs, 35 RBIs in 90 games), 3B Jose Ramirez (.318, 29, 83, AL-leading 56 2Bs), DH Edwin Encarnacion (.258, 38, 107), 1B Yonder Alonso (.266, career-high 28 HRs, 67 RBIs with Athletics and Mariners), RF Lonnie Chisenhall (.288, 12, 53 in 82 games), C Roberto Perez (.207, 8, 38, club went 44-22 in his starts) or Yan Gomes (.232, 14, 56), CF Bradley Zimmer (.241, 8, 39, 18 SBs, 0 errors), LF Michael Brantley (.299, 9, 52 in 90 games) or Rajai Davis (.235, 5, 20, 29 SBs with Oakland and Boston).Rotation: RH Corey Kluber... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona ace Zack Greinke's start against Cincinnati was cut short Wednesday after one inning because of right groin tightness.Greinke had been scheduled to throw five innings. The 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner retired Ben Revere on a groundout, allowed Jesse Winkler's single, then struck out Joey Votto and Scooter Gennett.Albert Suarez relieved to start the second.Greinke was making his just second big league exhibition appearance this year. The 34-year-old right-hander pitched 1 2/3 innings against Milwaukee on Feb. 25, then made a pair of appearances in "B'' games.RED SOX 2, TWINS 1Chris Sale pitched five shutout innings of two-hit ball and struck out seven, lowering his ERA to 1.00. Mitch Moreland homered in the third off Tyler Duffey, who gave up two runs — one earned — and four hits in three innings. Mookie Betts, batting .130, singled and drove in a run. Miguel Sano doubled.CARDINALS 3, ASTROS 1Adam Wainwright allowed one run and four hits in five innings... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals had the most feared bullpen in the majors in 2014 and '15 with Wade Davis, Greg Holland and Kelvin Herrera helping them advance to back-to-back World Series.That's no longer the case entering 2018. The back end of the bullpen remains unsettled as Royals opened spring training on Tuesday with pitchers and catchers reporting.Herrera is back and led the team with 26 saves last year, but he lost his closing job late in the season. Scott Alexander logged four saves. Mike Minor finished the year as the closer, collecting six saves.The Royals traded relievers Alexander, Joakim Soria and Ryan Butcher in January. Minor signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent.Along with a plethora of new faces in the bullpen, the Royals have a new pitching coach in Cal Eldred and bullpen coach in Vance Wilson.Herrera, who had a career-worst 4.25 ERA in 64 appearances and battled forearm tightness last year, arrived in Arizona on January 13 to begin working out."I... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Cleveland IndiansManager: Terry Francona (sixth season).2017: 102-60, first place, lost to New York Yankees in ALDS.Training Town: Goodyear, Arizona.Park: Goodyear Ballpark.First Workout: Feb. 15/19.He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, OF Melvin Upton Jr., RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Going campin': Poised to possibly end their 70-year-old World Series title drought, the Indians, who reeled off 22 straight victories in 2017, didn't even make it back to the AL Championship Series after squandering a 2-0 playoff lead against the Yankees. Unlike last winter, when the club signed DH Edwin Encarnacion in free agency, the Indians were relatively quiet, counting on their core to carry them in... [More]

RHP Wily Peralta signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, the team announced Tuesday. Peralta will reportedly make $1.5 million this coming season. The option is worth $3 million with a $25,000 buyout. Peralta, 28, is coming off a poor season in which he went 5-4 with a 7.85 ERA in 19 appearances (eight starts) with the Milwaukee Brewers. He also spent time at Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2017, and went 1-0 with one save and a 3.38 ERA in 13 appearances with the Sky Sox.

RHP Wily Peralta cleared waivers Thursday and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Peralta was never able to get going this season, going 5-4 with a 7.85 ERA. He was removed from the starting rotation but faltered in a relief role, too, posting a 1-2 mark with an 11.94 ERA after allowing seven earned runs on eight hits and two walks over 1 2/3 innings of a 15-2 blowout by Washington last week.

RHP Wily Peralta did not fare well in relief Thursday, allowing seven runs on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings. His ERA continues to soar, and is 7.85 on the season. He has allowed 23 runs in 17 1/3 relief innings. "It was a struggle," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We have to have better than that."

RHP Wily Peralta was reinstated from the disabled list Sunday after missing more than a month (ribs). In two innings in relief, Peralta allowed one hit while striking out four and walking one in the two scoreless frames.

RHP Wily Peralta (strained right calf) made his second rehab appearance Saturday for Triple-A Colorado Springs and it did not go well. He recorded one out in the sixth inning against Round Rock and allowed six runs (five earned) and four hits. In his first two rehab outings with Colorado Springs, Peralta has a 19.29 ERA. Manager Craig Counsell said there was no issues with the calf, just that Peralta had a bad outing. Peralta will get at least two more outings on his rehab assignment.

RHP Wily Peralta (strained right calf) will make another rehab start this weekend but Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said at least one more after this weekend is needed. Peralta was placed on the disabled list June 21 and began his rehab assignment Wednesday. He is 5-4 with a 7.21 ERA in 17 appearances (eight starts) this season.

RHP Wily Peralta began a rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Colorado Springs, allowing one unearned run in two innings. Peralta has been shelved since June 20 with a strained right calf. He will pitch in two-inning stints as he continues his conversion into a reliever, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said.

RHP Wily Peralta was moved to the bullpen in the middle of May. A month later, he was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right calf strain. Brewers manager Craig Counsell plans to continue using Peralta in relief when he's healthy. "That's what we're shooting for," Counsell said. "When he gets to the point of being able to rehab, he will pitch out of the bullpen. That's still what we're planning."

RHP Wily Peralta was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained left calf. Manager Craig Counsell said Peralta suffered the injury during workouts a day earlier and reported it to the training staff Wednesday afternoon. The injury comes two days after another rough outing for Peralta, who has a 10.54 ERA in nine appearances since being removed from the starting rotation and a 7.21 mark overall this season.

RHP Wily Peralta was knocked around again as he continues transitioning from a starting to a relief role. Peralta gave up four runs, five hits and a walk in one inning and has now allowed a run in each of his last seven appearances. Peralta went 4-2 with a 6.08 ERA in eight starts this season but is 1-2 with a 10.53 ERA in nine relief outings, giving him an overall ERA of 7.21 this season. "Frankly, it's getting tough," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "That's kind of where we're at with it. We're getting the big velocity that we thought we'd get. The last couple of nights, we got it. But obviously there's still some hard contact. A lot of hard contact."

RHP Wily Peralta threw two scoreless innings Wednesday as he continues his transition from starter to a bullpen role. Peralta allowed two hits with a strikeout. He hasn't allowed a run in either of his two relief appearances spanning four innings. Peralta went 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA in his first three starts this season but was 4-2 with a 6.08 mark when he was moved to the bullpen May 14.