Calf issue isn't likely to hold back Mazzaro

ST. LOUIS -- Right-hander Vin Mazzaro, taken out after six innings Friday night because of a tight calf muscle, is likely to make his next start as scheduled.

"He's going to be fine," manager Ned Yost said before Saturday's game against the Cardinals. "It wasn't stiff and tight [Saturday] morning, so that's a good sign."

Mazzaro shut out the Cardinals for six innings of the Royals' 3-2 win and boosted his record to 3-1, while lowering his ERA to 2.57. He's scheduled to pitch on Wednesday at Houston.

The Astros better be on their guard, too, when Mazzaro comes to the plate. He singled off the Cardinals' Kyle Lohse for his second hit this season. That made Mazzaro the first Royals pitcher to have two hits in a season since Zack Greinke in 2008.

Further, that matches the club record for hits by a pitcher in a season since the advent of the designated hitter in 1973. The others, in addition to Mazzaro and Greinke, were Jeremy Affeldt in 2003 and Jeff Suppan in '01.