After getting most of his work in on the backfields of the Royals’ Spring Training complex during the middle portion of camp, right-hander Jakob Junis returned to Cactus League action on Wednesday and faced the top of the Angels’ lineup -- including Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon.

No big deal.

Junis struck out Trout looking and got Rendon to fly out to center field, working two perfect innings in the Royals’ 4-2 loss to the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Three of Junis’ six outs came via strikeout. The Royals deliberately had Junis come into the game out of the bullpen and gave him short notice to warm up -- prepping him for the role he’ll have come Opening Day. Junis will work as a reliever to start the season, likely eating up some middle innings but also having the ability to enter in higher-leverage spots if needed. And once the need for a fifth starter comes around on April 16, the right-hander will be in that conversation, too.

“Really my approach is just whenever my name is called, just go out there and be ready and do my thing,” Junis said. “I’m not going to think about it too much and worry about it. I know I’m starting in the bullpen that first few series, and I’ll be ready to go out of the bullpen and throw my stuff and hopefully get the job done."

The Royals have stretched Junis out to about four innings, and his next outing will be a full four to get ready for whatever role they need him in when the regular season begins. Manager Mike Matheny has often praised Junis for his versatility, and the Royals are going to rely on it, especially in the first part of the season as they manage pitchers’ workloads coming off a 60-game season.

But Junis’ stuff and its results this spring have kept his name in the conversation as a starter. His new cutter gives him an added weapon, allowing him to keep hitters off-balance instead of relying on his slider all the time. And with how good that slider can be, Junis can keep hitters guessing. To strike out Trout, Junis threw a cutter away for a first-pitch strike, then two sliders that Trout fouled off. Junis then threw a slider that looked as though it’d go in on Trout, but it landed in the zone for a called strike.

“I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job in Spring Training," Junis said. “I’ve done all I can do, and I’m not going to worry about it. I know that I’m starting in the bullpen, and we’ll go from there. Hopefully, get a few outings in the bullpen, do my job and we’ll see what happens.”

Junis is adjusting to life in the bullpen, including getting warmed up more quickly and knowing when he needs to start getting up to stretch. What sticks out to his teammates is that his temperament seems to fit well in the bullpen -- going with the flow and adjusting quickly.

“He doesn’t say a lot,” reliever Greg Holland said. “I think he’s just more of an, ‘I’ll walk instead of talk’ kind of mind frame. He just wants to compete. I’m guessing that in his mind he has the ability to be an ace starter, but when it all comes down to it, he probably just wants the opportunity to help us win games. And that kind of selflessness is going to serve him well.”

Holland continues streak
Holland hasn’t allowed a run yet this spring, working another quick inning Wednesday. The right-hander has allowed just one hit over six innings of work, and he’s ready for the season to get started.

“I did my back-to-back before the off-day [Tuesday], and that’s a benchmark for me,” Holland said. “I like to get to that point, get some soreness built up and get over it. Now it’s just transitioning and working backwards from being ready for Opening Day.”

Holland is in a different situation this spring, coming off a stellar season with the Royals and returning on a one-year Major League deal. Last spring, he was competing for a roster spot. That changes his approach to Cactus League games a little bit, but the competition is still the same.

“You’re out there competing for a job, it’s a little different than wanting to get better at some things that are my weaknesses that I focus on,” Holland said. “Kind of toeing the line -- you still want to go out there and compete, but it’s also nice knowing -- like that last batter I was wanting to try a backdoor slider. I hadn’t done it in a few outings, and it’s nice to have that luxury.”

Pitching plans
The Royals have their pitching scheduled through the remainder of Spring Training, with Danny Duffy scheduled to start Thursday’s game against the D-backs. Here’s the rest of the schedule:

Friday vs. Rangers: Jackson Kowar
Saturday vs. Brewers: Brad Keller
Sunday vs. Rockies: Mike Minor
Monday vs. Indians: Brady Singer

After the Royals break camp, Duffy will stay behind and throw one more outing against Minor Leaguers before meeting the team in Kansas City and making his first regular-season start on April 5.

Worth noting
• The Royals held a Minor League game at Surprise Stadium against the Rangers on Wednesday, with Singer starting to ensure he stays on schedule for the regular season. The right-hander allowed two runs on six hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. He pitched a total of five innings; the first inning was rolled, and then Singer got four outs in the fifth.

• The plan was always to have left-hander Daniel Lynch -- one of many top Royals prospects in camp -- throw two innings in Wednesday’s start, even before a comebacker in the second inning hit Lynch in the back and he remained in the game. Matheny said Lynch was fine, just a little sore.