Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura was demoted to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, according to the team's official website.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura was demoted to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, according to the team's official website. Ventura was rocked for six runs in just four innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday and was sent down in a move corresponding to the activation of Jason Vargas from the disabled list. The 24-year-old was the team's Opening Day starter, but he has failed to live up to expectations after an exciting rookie season when he won 14 games and posted a 3.20 ERA in 183 innings. Ventura's ERA now sits at 5.19 through 76.1 innings this season and he has failed to go further than five innings in any of his last four starts. The hard-throwing righty missed nearly a month starting in mid-June with a nerve problem in his right arm, but he was actually activated early from his rehab assignment, as the team felt he was ready to return. It is unclear if his struggles are related to his prior condition, but he will try to sort out his problems in the minor leagues.

The Royals may consider demoting Ventura to Triple-A Omaha, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.

Ventura gave up six runs in Monday's loss to the Pirates, raising his ERA to 5.19 for the season. His 3.68 xFIP suggests that he's been one of the least lucky starters in the majors, but the Royals have enough pitching depth that a demotion might still make sense. If Ventura is sent down, it would either allow Chris Young to stay in the rotation or Kris Medlen to step in. The Royals would still want Ventura to rejoin the rotation by the end of the season.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura is facing a possible demotion to Triple-A Omaha, according to Fox Sports.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura is facing a possible demotion to Triple-A Omaha, according to Fox Sports. Ventura's loss Monday to the Pittsburgh Pirates leaves him with a 5.19 ERA, and the team has the pitching depth to allow him to work through his issues in the minor leagues rather than in the middle of a pennant race.

Ventura allowed six runs on 10 hits and a walk over four innings in a loss Monday against the Pirates.

Ventura struck out seven and walked just one in his second start since going on the disabled list with a nerve issue in June. He has made just four starts since the start of June and has yet to go more than five innings, and he has allowed 15 earned runs in as many innings over that span. His ERA rose to 5.19 after Monday's beating.

Ventura (arm) was activated from the disabled list and will start Thursday's game against the Rays.

He made two rehab starts totaling 9.1 innings, so he may not go more than five or six innings Thursday. With the All-Star break approaching, Ventura should be fresh for the second half assuming he makes it through Thursday's start with no setbacks.

Ventura (arm) will be activated from the DL to start Thursday's game, Matt DeFranks of Sports Radio 810 reports.

As expected, Ventura will end his rehab assignment a bit early to start Thursday against the Rays. The right-hander progressed quickly in his recovery and will forego his scheduled rehab start Monday night.

Ventura (arm) may skip his next rehab assignment, as manager Ned Yost indicated he's "ready" to rejoin the club, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

The early indication is that Ventura could start Thursday against Tampa Bay, but nothing's been confirmed on that front yet. Upon his return, Joe Blanton seems the likely candidate to relinquish his spot in the rotation.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura may return from his arm injury to start Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to MLB.com.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura may return from his arm injury to start Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to MLB.com. Ventura is scheduled to make another rehab start, but Royals manager Ned Yost believes it will not be necessary.

Ventura (arm) is slated for another rehab start Monday at Triple-A Omaha, Sports Radio 810 WHB reports.

Manager Ned Yost stated Saturday that Ventura's scheduled side session Friday went "great," but the right-hander will take the mound one more time before returning to the majors, likely because he felt some "sensation" in his right hand in his last rehab outing. The feeling disappeared quickly, though, so an uneventful performance Monday could very well be the ticket needed for activation. In two previous rehab starts, Ventura conceded four runs on six hits and six walks to go with nine strikeouts in 9.1 innings.

Ventura (arm) may make another rehab start, 810WHB.com reports.

Ventura will throw a bullpen session in Kansas City this weekend, after giving up one run over 5.1 innings (84 pitches) in Wednesday's rehab start for Triple-A Omaha. If the session goes well, he may be activated from the disabled list next week.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura may need to make another rehab start before he returns from an arm injury, according to 810WHB.com.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura may need to make another rehab start before he returns from an arm injury, according to 810WHB.com. Ventura threw 5.1 innings for Triple-A Omaha in a rehab start Wednesday, and the team will decide whether he's ready to be activated from the disabled list after he works a bullpen session this weekend.

Ventura (arm) will make another rehab start before rejoining the Royals, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Ventura was reportedly underwhelming in his rehab outing Friday at Triple-A Omaha, allowing three runs over four innings of work. He threw 70 pitches in the outing and needs at least one more start in the minors to work off the rust before returning to the Royals' rotation.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura will make another rehab start before returning from his arm injury, according to MLB.com.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura will make another rehab start before returning from his arm injury, according to MLB.com. Ventura allowed three runs over four innings in a start with Triple-A Omaha on MLB.com.

Ventura (arm) will likely require a rehab stint before returning to the Royals, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Ventura is without a firm return date after hitting the DL late last week, but he threw a bullpen session over the weekend without issue. If he continues to progress at this rate, he could embark on a rehab assignment within the next week or two.

Ventura (hand) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Matthew DeFranks of FOX Sports Kansas City reports.

This is an encouraging sign for Ventura, who was placed on the DL on Thursday with nerve irritation in his throwing arm. It seems the right-hander could return on or shortly after his earliest possible activation date. Danny Duffy (shoulder) will take his turn in the rotation Wednesday against the Mariners.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura threw a bullpen session Saturday while recovering from a hand injury, according to Fox Sports Kansas City.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura threw a bullpen session Saturday while recovering from a hand injury, according to Fox Sports Kansas City. Ventura was placed on the disabled list Thursday.

Ventura (hand) will be placed on the disabled list, Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports.

Ventura has been dealing with nerve irritation in his throwing hand, which has resulted in lack of feeling in some fingers. After initially having his start pushed back to Friday, he'll hit the DL, so Yohan Pino will take the hill in his place. The Royals are yet to announce a corresponding move, though Triple-A left-hander John Lamb is considered the frontrunner to join the rotation on an interim basis.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen will make a rehab start at Double-A Northwest Arkansas while recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent last March, according to MLB.com.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen will make a rehab start at Double-A Northwest Arkansas while recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent last March, according to MLB.com. Medlen expects to be ready to come back to the big club by the All-Star break, but the Royals have not decided whether he will be a starting pitcher or reliever upon his return. "I just don't know yet" general manager Dayton Moore said. "I don't want to speculate, because I just don't know. We made need somebody in both roles; we may need somebody in one role. And I think he's capable of performing in either one. We're in uncharted waters. A two-time Tommy John guy. We've got to manage it little by little, and not get too far ahead of ourselves." The Royals currently have Medlen on a 30-day rehab schedule.

Ventura (hand) will have his next start pushed back to Friday, Jeff Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Ventura was experiencing numbness in his throwing hand Sunday, so the Royals will give him a couple of extra days off before his next start. Ventura was originally slated to pitch Wednesday, but Joe Blanton will now take the hill instead.

Ventura (hand) was scheduled to play catch before Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

After he exited Friday's outing with numbness on a few of the fingers on his throwing hand, Ventura indicated that he felt better Sunday, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to take the mound for his next scheduled turn Wednesday against the Brewers. The Royals are expected to make a decision on that front after Ventura tosses a side session Monday. Triple-A Omaha lefty John Lamb appears to be the leading candidate to join the rotation if Ventura is forced to miss his next start.