KANSAS CITY -- Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield left Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Astros in the second inning after fouling a pitch off his left knee. He was diagnosed with a contusion and is day to day.
Merrifield hit the first pitch from Lance McCullers -- a 95-mph two-seamer -- down into his knee before hobbling away in pain and eventually falling to the ground. He walked off the field on his own power, but with a visible limp and at the side of manager Ned Yost and athletic trainer Nick Kenney.
"He's bruised," Yost said. "No fracture or anything. Day to day."
Merrifield thinks he'll be back in the lineup soon.
"Nice little bruise, but I'm going to be all right," Merrifield said.
Raul Mondesi, who was called up from Triple-A Omaha before the game, finished the at-bat and struck out. He replaced Merrifield at second base and went 0-for-3.