Right-hander Gil Meche, who left his Tuesday start after 3 2/3 innings with lower back tightness in a loss to the Blue Jays, should make his next start, manager Trey Hillman said Wednesday.
Meche, who is scheduled to start Sunday at Minnesota, underwent exams, including a MRI, on his ailing back Wednesday. No structural damage was found. "I think he's going to be OK," Hillman said. "He's just a little stiff in the right low back. It's just like (Tuesday); we didn't know there was an issue until we actually took him out. He's going to keep taking the ball if he feels he can go out there."
Meche, who had back problems early in spring training, said the pain comes and goes. He said he felt no discomfort in his previous start April 23 at Cleveland, when he threw 113 pitches and retired 16 in a row during one stretch.
"He doesn't want to give the ball up," Hillman said. "He wants to pitch."
Meche, who is 1-2 with a 3.77 ERA in five starts, will take the mound again Sunday against the Twins if he has no further setbacks.
ROYALS 11, BLUE JAYS 3: Zack Greinke gave up his first earned runs of the season, but he breezed to his fifth victory. Greinke gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings, while striking out eight and walking two. Billy Butler homered twice, collected four hits, scored four times and drove in four runs. Mark Teahen hit a two-run homer.
