Mike Minor scratched from his start tonight, heads to the Injured List

The Royals have placed left-hander Mike Minor on the Injured List with a left shoulder impingement and have recalled right-hander Scott Blewett. Minor was scheduled to start tonight against Oakland, but was scratched in favor of Carlos Hernández. Daniel Lynch will start the series finale against the Athletics on Thursday afternoon.

Minor last pitched on Wednesday against Baltimore, tossing six shutout innings before a bullpen meltdown led to a 9-8 loss. He leads the Royals with 28 starts and 158 ²⁄₃ innings pitched, and has a 5.05 ERA and 4.28 FIP this season. The Royals have not given a timetable for his return, but he would not be eligible to come off the Injured List until the second-to-last weekend of the season, so his year may be over. The Royals have the 33-year old under contract for 2022 at a salary of $10 million, plus a $13 million club option for 2023 with a $1 million buyout. Minor joins Jesse Hahn, Jakob Junis, Greg Holland, Jake Brentz, and Cam Gallagher as Royals players who have had a shoulder impingement this season.

Scott Blewett pitched in three innings for the Royals last year, giving up two runs with four strikeouts and a walk. The 25-year old was on the active roster a few days ago when pitcher Joel Payamps went on the Injured List, presumably for COVID-19-related concerns, but Blewett did not see any action. He was originally a second-round pick by the Royals in 2014, and has a 6.42 ERA in 61 ²⁄₃ innings for Triple-A Omaha this season.