Kansas City Royals starter Jason Vargas is headed to the 15-day DL with a flexor strain, somethin..."/> Kansas City Royals starter Jason Vargas is headed to the 15-day DL with a flexor strain, somethin..."/>
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Royals’ Vargas to DL with flexor strain

By CM Towle

May 5, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Jason Vargas (51) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Jason Vargas (51) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kansas City Royals starter Jason Vargas is headed to the 15-day DL with a flexor strain, something that often leads to Tommy John surgery.

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The Royals are still one of the top teams in the MLB, but losing a starter never bodes well and they’re about to do just that as left-hander Jason Vargas is headed to the 15-day DL with a flexor strain, according to a story by Daily Dish. The 15-day DL might seem innocuous enough at first glance, but a flexor strain is often a bad omen that speaks of a more serious issue.

Vargas’ roster spot will be taken by relief pitcher Yohan Pino and his turn in the rotation is likely to be temporarily claimed by right-hander Chris Young. The initial examination of Vargas did not reveal any damage to his UCL, so that seems promising. He thinks that he’ll only miss a few starts. Vargas’ season so far has been so-so. He holds a 5.26 ERA, but has a 3-1 record. He’s had a few short outings and only two outings going six innings or more. Vargas has 14 strikeouts to 10 bases on balls. Not the best start when he had a 3.71 ERA last year and a 3.52 in the postseason.

That makes you realistically wonder if arm discomfort has bothered him this season. The flexor is a muscle that protects the UCL and strains or injuries to it often herald further damage and the eventuality of Tommy John surgery. A flexor injury is what Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish had last year when he was pulled at the end of the season. His examination also did not reveal any damage to the UCL. Even with offseason rest, once he started Spring Training, the injury got worse and he eventually had to have Tommy John surgery.

So it could go either way for Vargas, but his slow start to the year makes you wonder if it hasn’t been bothering him for longer than we know.

As for his possible replacement, Chris Young, he currently has a 1.06 ERA as a reliever, but he also started for the Mariners last year and posted a 3.65 ERA in over 29 starts. So it would seem that Young is a good choice for the Royals in replacing Vargas. However, the Royals have starters at the back end of their rotation that are struggling and they’ve been rumored to be looking into acquiring another starter.

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