Royals tab Skoglund to start Sunday vs. Tribe

CLEVELAND -- Royals left-hander Eric Skoglund was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Friday and he will make a start against the Indians on Sunday at Progressive Field. Lefty reliever Richard Lovelady was optioned to Omaha.

Sunday’s spot in the rotation could have gone to either left-hander Danny Duffy, who is on the injured list because of a hamstring issue, or right-hander Jorge López, who made a spot start earlier this week in Baltimore and gave up just one run in five innings. The Royals instead decided to send Duffy on a brief rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Duffy will pitch on Sunday in Frisco, Texas.

Duffy threw a simulated game on Tuesday in Baltimore, tossing about 60 pitches. In Texas, he’ll throw about 75 pitches.

“We just thought it would benefit him to get one start down there,” manager Ned Yost said. “I would expect it will only be one start."

Duffy said he was on board with the plan.

“I’m ready to go and ready to get out there and test it, and throw it 100 percent,” Duffy said. “We have had a lot of travel this week and it will be a nice reward to actually pitch competitively.

“I want to make sure I’m completely ready. I’ve been hit in the hand and hit in the kneecap and tried to pitch through both of those injuries, and it cost my team nine runs. I want to be 100 percent this time.”

Skoglund is 2-4 with a 6.14 ERA at Omaha.

Royals Minor Leaguer suspended

Minor League outfielder Jarvis Martinez, who is currently on the Dominican Summer League roster, received a 72-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance.