KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -The Kansas City Royals activated reliever Leo Nunez from the 15-day disabled list on Monday.
Nunez, on the disabled list since May 18 because of a strained muscle in his right side, was the primary setup for closer Joakim Soria before the injury. He was 3-1 with a 1.78 earned run average and held opponents to a .183 batting average in 21 appearances before the injury.
“What I would like to do is ease him back into it rather than sticking him back immediately into that eighth inning role,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said. “I would like to use him in the sixth or seventh. He’ll end up being the back end at some point in time.”
In five minor league rehab appearances, Nunez allowed seven hits and three earned runs in six innings.
The Royals optioned right-hander Joel Peralta to Triple-A Omaha. Peralta was 1-2 with a 5.52 ERA in 24 relief appearances in two stints with Kansas City.
“It is unfortunate for Joel, but obviously he is the guy that has got the options left,” Hillman said. “I was really impressed, especially with his last outing with what Joel was able to do.”
Jose Guillen, who did not start any of the three weekend games at Chicago, was back in the lineup, starting in right field and batting cleanup.
Mark Teahen, who went just 2-for-14 in the White Sox series to drop his average to .248, was held out of the lineup.
“I’m giving him a day off,” Hillman said. “He hasn’t been swinging the bat very well.”
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