Royals’ Danny Duffy to miss at least one start with shoulder issue
By Hayden Kane
The Kansas City Royals are enjoying a run to the playoffs, one that feels long overdue for a fan base that has suffered through years and years of bad baseball.
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In terms of the sustainability of that run and how far the Royals can truly go, the team received a scare this past weekend when left-handed pitcher Danny Duffy was forced to exit a start against the New York Yankees after just one pitch with discomfort in his throwing shoulder.
Duffy’s name might not grab headlines, but he is one of the most important pitchers in the playoff race. Certainly the Royals know that, as his 2.42 ERA in 23 starts has been crucial to their success. Note: if pitcher wins are your thing and you think Duffy isn’t that good because of his 8-11 record, please see yourself out.
The abrupt nature with which Duffy exited combined with the nature of the injury created the concern that the lefty might be lost for the season. That is not the case…at least not for now.
"“Duffy’s shoulder is structurally sound,” general manager Dayton Moore said on Monday in Detroit…“In a perfect world, you’re Superman and say, ‘Go-go-gas-it-on,'” Duffy said, “but I understand that getting this far into the season entails a lot of maintenance, and it’s something we’ll have to sit one out for and get back there and try to do it again in one rotation turn.”"
The Royals will still take it slow with Duffy as appropriate, but it sounds like he will pitch again this season. That is good news for the Royals and for baseball fans in general.
Stay tuned to FanSided for all of the latest news and analysis on the Kansas City Royals and the MLB season with the postseason just around the corner.