KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Luke Hochevar has made his final start of the season, the third Kansas City Royals starter to be shut down in September.
Manager Ned Yost said Thursday that Hochevar — who has thrown a career-high 198 innings, 90 more than last season when he missed 212 months with an elbow injury — would not pitch again this year for “his protection and his health.”
Hochevar finished 11-11 with a 4.88 ERA.
Yost said left-hander Jeff Francis’ start Thursday night against the Chicago White Sox would be his last this season. Rookie left-hander Danny Duffy was shut down after a Sept. 6 start because of his workload.
Right-handers Luis Mendoza and Vin Mazzaro, who are pitching for Triple-A Omaha in the PCL championship series, will likely move into the Kansas City rotation.
