Royals weighing options for Sunday's starter

KANSAS CITY -- After getting pummeled by the Mariners for nine runs, eight of them earned, in just 2 1/3 innings on Tuesday, Jeremy Guthrie's scheduled next start on Sunday is in jeopardy.

Royals manager Ned Yost said he and his staff now are also considering veteran right-hander Chris Young and rookie righty Miguel Almonte for that start against the Indians.

"I don't know yet," Yost said. "We're still debating."

One issue is how many innings any of the three could provide. Almonte has worked exclusively out of the bullpen since being a September callup and was a reliever during the second half of the Minor League season.

"He's got stuff, though," Yost said of Almonte. "He could probably go to 65 pitches. That would get us two or three innings the way we've been going. It's going to be a bullpen day no matter what."

Young was a starter from May 10 to July 28 -- going 7-6 with a 3.49 ERA.

"Chris Young can give you five innings," Yost said.

Yost said he still may stick with Guthrie, who now has a 5.95 ERA.

"I mean, he had a bad start," Yost said. "It doesn't mean he'll have a bad start again. He's had a few bad starts."