The Royals introduced that right-hander Hunter Harvey has been positioned on the 15-day injured record (retroactive to August 7) resulting from mid-back tightness. Proper-hander Carlos Hernandez was known as up from Triple-A within the corresponding transfer.
The again downside has stored Harvey from pitching since August 4, so he’ll get the utmost three days of backdated IL placement time factored into an extended stint on the sidelines. Clearly Harvey and the Royals had been hopeful that some relaxation would permit for Harvey to heal with out the necessity for a visit to the injured record, however immediately’s information continues that has been a shaky starting to the reliever’s tenure in Kansas Metropolis.
Acquired from the Nationals slightly below a month in the past, Ok.C. paid a hefty worth to land the righty, giving up each notable infield prospect Cayden Wallace in addition to the thirty ninth total decide within the 2024 draft (the Royals’ Aggressive Stability Spherical choice, that are the one varieties of draft picks that may be traded). The Royals had been hoping that Harvey may assist solidify their bullpen, however he has to this point posted a 6.35 ERA in 5 2/3 innings over 4 appearances, with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts.
These numbers are starkly totally different from the 4.20 ERA, 26.3% strikeout fee, and 6.3% stroll fee Harvey posted in 45 innings for Washington previous to the commerce. The small pattern dimension of Harvey’s time with the Royals have to be thought-about, in fact, plus some further misfortune within the type of a .389 BABIP since he went from D.C. to Ok.C. Nonetheless, whereas most secondary metrics indicated that Harvey pitched higher with the Nats than his 4.20 ERA indicated, he’s close to the underside of the league with a 48.3% hard-hit ball fee.
It may very well be that every one of that tough contact was sure to meet up with Harvey finally, and it absolutely hasn’t helped that he would possibly’ve been nursing a nasty again throughout a few of this time. Harvey has a protracted damage historical past principally associated to arm issues fairly than again points, so hopefully a 15-day absence will totally right the issue.
Harvey joins a number of different Royals relievers on the IL, as John Schreiber and Dan Altavilla are anticipated again roughly across the finish of August and the group is hopeful Josh Taylor can return in some unspecified time in the future in September. The accidents haven’t helped the Royals’ efforts to each enhance their bullpen outcomes or their broader aim of reaching the playoffs, and with Harvey out, it places extra strain on James McArthur and new arrival Lucas Erceg to carry the fort in high-leverage conditions.