The Royals had previously announced Luinder Avila would get the start for tonight’s game, but now we know the corresponding move. Bailey Falter has been added to the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation retroactive to his last appearance in the ninth inning of Wednesday night’s win.
Bailey Falter has made six appearances for KC since being acquired for reliever Evan Sisk and infielder Callan Moss at the 2025 trade deadline, two starts and four relief appearances. He was a disaster last summer after the trade and looked pretty bad in Spring Training. However, he looked pretty good in his final spring performance and first relief appearance of the 2026 regular season. Unfortunately, when he attempted to finish off a rain-soaked blowout on Wednesday night, he struggled to throw competitive pitches. He got one out but walked two and gave up three hits, including a home run, leading to three runs and creating a save situation that Lucas Erceg had to finish off.
Falter becomes the second Royals reliever to go on the IL in the season’s first week after a non-competitive ninth inning performance, after Carlos Estévez was added with a left foot contusion on Wednesday. The Royals weren’t relying on Falter the same way they were Estévez, but that leaves them with only Matt Strahm and Daniel Lynch IV as left-handers in the bullpen, with no one who appears remotely ready to step into such a role in the minors. Hopefully, Lynch and Strahm will remain healthy. The Diamondbacks have attempted to navigate the beginning of their season without a left-handed reliever, resulting in an 8.39 ERA from their bullpen, fourth-worst in baseball.
Of course, the Royals currently sit at 9.00 thanks in large part to the efforts of Estévez and Falter. Hopefully, things will improve from here.
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