BASEBALL NOTES: Royals send Yordana Ventura to the minors – LA Times – Los

His poor campaign took another wrong turn on Tuesday, as the Kansas City Royals announced on Twitter that he would be optioned back to Triple-A to make room for returning pitcher Jason Vargas.

He started Tuesday night’s game against the Pirates but left in the second inning after suffering an injury. But Vargas’ injury means he could be heading back south to Kauffman Stadium quickly.

Vargas left Tuesday’s start due to “left medial elbow pain” and will undergo an MRI on Wednesday, Matthew DeFranks of Sports Radio 810 reports. Long reliever Joe Blanton replaced Vargas.

The 24-year-old Ventura, with a fastball that tops 100 miles per hour, is 4-7 with a 5.19 earned-run average in 14 starts this year. The right-hander was sidelined almost a month starting in June with inflammation of the ulnar nerve.

“Mostly his issues deal with command”, Yost said after Ventura allowed six runs, 10 hits and a walk in four innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, per Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star. In Game 6 of the World Series, Ventura pitched seven scoreless innings in a win over the San Francisco Giants and was rewarded in the offseason with a five-year, $23 million contract.

On Saturday, the Royals are scheduled to hand out free bobbleheads to fans commemorating Ventura in the World Series.