Kansas City Royals Place Danny Duffy on Disabled List

The Kansas City Royals fading playoff hopes took a hit earlier today, as Danny Duffy has been placed on the disabled list.

In order for the Kansas City Royals to reach the postseason, they needed to rely on Danny Duffy. The unquestioned ace of their rotation, Duffy has built off of his breakout 2016 campaign. Despite a trip to the disabled list earlier in the year, he has posted an 8-8 record despite a solid 3.78 ERA and a 1.252 WHiP, striking out 116 batters against 36 walks in 131 innings.

Sitting a game out of the Wild Card in the hotly contested American League, the Royals were hoping to ride Duffy to the postseason. However, those plans are on hold for the time being. Duffy was placed on the disabled list earlier today due to a left elbow impingement. In his place, the Royals are bringing Onelki Garcia to the majors, with Eric Skoglund set to start in Duffy’s place.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Skoglund has been hit or miss in this three starts for the Royals this season. He was excellent in his first outing, holding the Tigers scoreless on two hits and a walk in his 6.1 innings. However, in his two subsequent outings, Skoglund allowed 15 baserunners and six runs in 3.1 innings. The Royals have to hope those final two starts were a blip on the radar, and not indicative of his production going forward.

Garcia, meanwhile, is making his first appearance in the majors since 2013. In his three outings with the Dodgers, he allowed two runs on four walks and a homer in 1.1 innings. This season, he posted a 4.75 ERA and a 1.500 WHiP in 85.1 innings, striking out 69 batters and issuing 33 walks between two levels.

The loss of Duffy is a tremendous blow for the Royals hopes. They went all in at the trade deadline, attempting to bolster their bullpen and solidify their lineup in a pair of trades. However, the Royals have struggled since, falling out of the second Wild Card spot. Should Duffy be on the shelf for an extended period of time, that may be the death knell to their season.

Next: Rhys Hoskins keeps hitting homers

Danny Duffy has gone on the disabled list for the Kansas City Royals. The timing could not be worse for the Royals postseason aspirations.