Sky's the limit for Ventura, but not innings

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Now that young right-hander Yordano Ventura has won his spot in the Royals' rotation, the question is: Will he have a limit on the number of innings he can pitch this year?

"No," manager Ned Yost said. "We're looking at him to throw 180, 200 innings."

Published reports had suggested that the Royals will have an inning limit on Ventura, 22. But Yost brushed that off emphatically.

Last year Ventura worked a total of 150 innings in 28 starts for Northwest Arkansas, Omaha and Kansas City. In the process, he notched 166 strikeouts against 59 walks.