PHOENIX -- The Royals continued to pare down their Spring Training roster, optioning right-hander Heath Fillmyer to Triple-A Omaha.

Fillmyer had been in contention for a rotation spot, but he struggled in his last two starts, giving up 12 runs and 17 hits over 8 2/3 innings.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Saturday morning that Fillmyer would remain in Arizona and throw in extended spring camp to continue building arm strength.

Fillmyer, 24, could be recalled as soon as April 2, though it likely will be later.

“If he goes down and does his job,” Yost said, “he’ll be back when the fifth spot [in the rotation] comes up.”

Yost indicated there was no real discussion of Fillmyer going to the bullpen.

“He’s been a starter [in our plans],” Yost said. “We don’t need a fifth spot until the 10th [of April]. He’ll go down there and make a couple of starts and be back if he’s doing good.”

Keller’s final tuneup

Royals right-hander Brad Keller, who will start Thursday's Opening Day matchup against the White Sox, made his final start before then and went 4 2/3 innings in the Royals' 6-4 win over the Brewers on Saturday. He gave up seven hits and four runs, striking out two.

Keller gave up two long home runs, one to Christian Yelich and one to Travis Shaw.

“I think I got my work in and felt good,” Keller said. “I got up to 90 pitches or so today. Two mistake pitches. A slider that slid right into Shaw’s bat, and a sinker that didn’t sink to Yelich.”

Keller has spent much of camp trying to develop a changeup.

“The changeup is strides ahead of what it has been,” he said. “Camp is for working on things, and I feel good about the slider and the changeup.

“The slider was a little hit-and-miss today. But I think it will be a good weapon for me along with the changeup.”

Is Keller ready for Opening Day?

“I think the excitement starts now,” Keller said, smiling.

Gore turns on jets in 9th-inning rally

Terrance Gore provided a glimpse of the charge he's capable of putting into the offense during a riveting ninth-inning comeback Saturday.

With the score tied at 4 and runners on second and third with one out, Gore lofted a shot over Brewers center fielder Zach Clark to plate both runs, but with loftier aspirations in mind, he motored around the bases only to be called out at home on a bang-bang play at the plate. He settled for a decisive two-run triple.

Lopez, Bailey will stay back

Yost said that right-handers Homer Bailey and Jorge Lopez will remain in Arizona after camp breaks on Sunday to keep on a regular throwing schedule.

Yost has not announced his rotation beyond Keller. But it’s likely right-hander Jakob Junis will start next Saturday at Kauffman Stadium against the White Sox. It’s likely, then, that either Bailey or Lopez would start March 31 in the series finale.

Up next

The Royals conclude their Cactus League play on Sunday at Surprise Stadium against the Rangers in a 2:05 p.m. CT start. Junis will get the start.