Kansas City Royals: Nate Karns injury huge blow to rotation
The Kansas City Royals have had a pretty good starting rotation this year, but the injuries are starting to pile up. The latest is Nate Karns, who was just placed on the ten-day disabled list with a right elbow injury.
Just when Kansas City Royals fans really started to get excited about this rotation, the injuries start to spread like wildfire. First, it was Ian Kennedy, who just got off the disabled list after injuring himself in a game two weeks ago.
Now, it’s Nate Karns, who just hit the disabled list on Wednesday with a right elbow injury. Karns going on the DL led to Alex Gordon returning to the Royals after being placed on paternity leave, as he and his wife just welcomed their third child into the world.
This Karns injury is a huge blow to the Royals because the guy had been pitching lights out over his last few starts. Recording a career-high 12 strikeouts against the Orioles on Mother’s Day weekend, Karns was making the trade with the Mariners for Jarrod Dyson look like it was definitely swinging in Kansas City’s favor.
#Royals have placed RH starter Nate Karns on the 10-day DL with a right elbow injury.
— Today in MLB (@Todayin_MLB) May 24, 2017
Miguel Almonte will start tomorrow in the Bronx.
Now, however, the Royals will once again have to find a spot starter every five days. The good news is that, had Thursday’s game not gotten postponed, the Royals weren’t going to go with long fly ball pitcher Chris Young Miguel Almonte was going to make his first Major League start.
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Sure, Almonte probably would have been lit up against the Yankees, especially in their home stadium where the baseballs fly out of that park, but that’s not the point. Hopefully this won’t be a long trip on the disabled list for Nasty Nate.
Up to this point, Karns had started eight games and appeared in nine total with a 4.17 ERA and 2-2 record. The ERA doesn’t look great, but Karns has been pretty dang good over his last four starts. His arm will be missed in the rotation, especially while Ian Kennedy tries to get his stuff back after being on the DL himself.
That’s my biggest worry now with Nate Karns honestly. Will he have the same solid stuff that he did before heading to the disabled list? Will he ever be able to strike out 12 batters in a game again this season? There are so many questions lingering around Karns’ DL stint and fans just want him to return to form once he’s able to start again.