--SS Mike Aviles, who is in a 4-for-28 skid to drop his average to .194, was held out of the lineup with tightness in his forearm. "Mike is not one to make excuses, but he's got a little bit of a stiff forearm that's been bothering him," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "Personally, I think it is affecting his swing a little bit with pitches he could typically get to now that he's more balanced. It could be a one-day thing; it could be longer than a one-day thing. Honestly, I'm going to judge it on what we think he needs day in and day out to get that forearm a little bit freed up where he can do what he needs to do physically. I know the numbers are not good. I hope Willie's (Bloomquist) remain good. We'll just take it day-to-day right now." Bloomquist, who is hitting .344, replaced Aviles at shortstop.
--C Miguel Olivo hit a three-run homer in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Olivo's longest hitting streak is 10 games, twice, Aug. 24- Sept. 4, 2005 with the Padres and June 22- July 6, 2006 with the Marlins. --RHP Zack Greinke, who is 7-1 with a 0.60 ERA, picked up his first career victory over the Orioles. He was 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA before beating the Orioles on Friday night.
--RHP Brian Bannister should make his next scheduled start without being skipped. Bannister, who starts Tuesday against the Indians, left his previous start with tightness in his shoulder.
--RHP Gil Meche, who will make his next scheduled start Wednesday, has been bothered by a stiff back, which has led to fatigue in recent starts.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Gil Meche (stiff back) is expected to make his May 20 start.
SS Mike Aviles (forearm tightness) was held out of the lineup May 15 and was day-to-day.
RHP Brian Bannister (stiff right shoulder) left the May 13 game but is not expected to miss a start.
RHP Joakim Soria (stiff right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 8. He is not expected to be ready by May 23, when he's eligible to be activated.
SS Tony Pena Jr. (fractured hamate bone in left hand) went on the 15-day disabled list May 3. He had surgery May 5, and he is expected to miss four to six weeks.
RHP Doug Waechter (right elbow strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 18. He began a minor league rehab assignment May 4, but he suffered a strained oblique muscle in mid-May, halting his recovery.
LHP John Bale (thyroid surgery on March 3) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He pitched in extended spring training on April 22, and he began a rehab assignment with Class AA Northwest Arkansas on May 6.
3B Alex Gordon (torn cartilage in right hip) went on the 15-day disabled list April 15. He had surgery April 16 and could be out until the All-Star break.
ROTATION:
RHP Gil Meche
RHP Zack Greinke
RHP Kyle Davies
RHP Luke Hochevar
RHP Brian Bannister
BULLPEN:
RHP Kyle Farnsworth
LHP Ron Mahay
RHP Juan Cruz
LHP Horacio Ramirez
RHP Robinson Tejada
RHP Jamey Wright
RHP Sidney Ponson
CATCHERS:
Miguel Olivo
John Buck
INFIELDERS:
1B Mike Jacobs
2B Alberto Callaspo
SS Mike Aviles
3B Mark Teahen
INF Luis Hernandez
OUTFIELDERS:
LF David DeJesus
CF Coco Crisp
RF Jose Guillen
OF Mitch Maier
DH Billy Butler
OF/INF Willie Bloomquist
