ST. LOUIS -- The Royals welcomed back one part of the left side of their bullpen on Saturday, while also temporarily losing the services of another, as Bailey Falter (left elbow inflammation) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and replaced on the IL by Matt Strahm (right knee inflammation).
For Strahm, the injury represents the third time in his career he’s been placed on the IL with the same designation, in addition to a patellar tendon repair in the right knee, which he underwent early in 2021 while with the Padres.
Strahm recorded two outs in the ninth inning of Friday’s 5-4 series-opening loss in 11 innings to Cardinals at Busch Stadium, but he was checked on by manager Matt Quatraro and a member of the team’s training staff after taking an awkward step and hop following a walk to José Fermín. Strahm remained in the game for one more batter before yielding to John Schreiber, who finished the inning.
“His knee’s been bothering him. He’s been pitching through it all year,” Quatraro said of Strahm, who declined to answer questions on Saturday morning. “Last night, it kind of flared up on him. The inflammation is in there, and it’s gotten worse. We thought [the injured list] was the best course to get him back feeling healthy and feeling good.”
The Royals re-acquired Strahm this offseason in a trade with Philadelphia -- in exchange for right-hander Jonathan Bowlan -- with the intent of using him as their primary high-leverage reliever from the left side. Strahm has handled the role admirably, striking out 17 batters and walking only seven across his 17 appearances.
With Strahm temporarily unavailable -- and with the Royals dipping deep into their bullpen to use six relievers on Friday -- the return of Falter provides protection in the form of both innings coverage and an option from the left side of the bullpen.
Falter, a career starter who the Royals transitioned to a relief role in Spring Training, spent the maximum 30 days on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha in an attempt to learn new routines that are designed to help him adjust to his new role.
“I have so much [information] on my phone now,” Falter said of his routine building. “I have a whole list of body prep stuff, a whole list of arm care stuff, a whole list of weighted ball stuff. Honestly, the amount of stuff that I have to do to be able to go out there and throw a baseball now blows my mind. It’s unbelievable. But it’s all worth it, though, because I’ll do whatever it takes just to continue to feel the way that I’ve been feeling.”
Falter struck out 19 hitters and allowed just four runs across nine appearances for the Storm Chasers, giving Quatraro and the Royals confidence that he’ll be available for use in a wide variety of situations.
“To have a fresh arm is nice,” Quatraro said. “Hopefully, it’s a great start and one or two relievers and we’re done, and then you don’t need that, but it does help to know you have that coverage.”