Royals place closer Dotel on DL

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Royals put closer Octavio Dotel on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday because of a strained muscle on his left side.
Dotel, limited to only a handful of appearances the last two years while recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery, had pitched well in spring training after signing a one-year contract.
The Royals are counting on him to revive a bullpen that blew a major league-high 31 saves last year. The move is retroactive to March 30.
“He really threw great,” manager Buddy Bell said. “He threw a lot of sinkers. His sinker got exceptionally better as the spring went on.”
Bell said the injury is “not a real dangerous issue.”
“Until it goes away, there’s really not a whole lot you can do about it,” said Bell. “We don’t think it’s something that’s going to linger.”
Bell said an MRI had exposed a “hot spot” on his left, non-throwing side.
“There was no tear of anything like that. It’s irritable for him.”
Right-hander David Riske will take on the role of closer.
“David has had some experience closing, so that’s probably the biggest reason why he’s in that spot right now,” Bell said. “But if we’re in a situation where a guy’s throwing good going into the ninth, we just might let him pitch the ninth rather than bring in Dave.”
The Royals purchased right-hander Jason Standridge’s contract from Triple-A Omaha. To make room for Standridge on the 40-man roster, right-hander Leo Nunez (fractured right wrist) was moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day.
Standridge has appeared in 76 major league games during his career while pitching for Tampa Bay, Texas and Cincinnati. He is 3-8 with a 5.64 ERA.