Danny Duffy to the disabled list with shoulder impingement

The Royals have placed pitcher Danny Duffy on the 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder impingement, according to Maria Torres of the Kansas City Star. He is expected to miss just one start, according to Rustin Dodd of The Athletic. Glenn Sparkman has been recalled and will make a start in Duffy’s place on Thursday against the Blue Jays.

According to Torres, Duffy had been dealing with shoulder stiffness for weeks, ever since a July 25 start against the Tigers. His velocity dropped in Saturday’s performance against the Cardinals, in which he gave up six runs in 5 ¹⁄₃ innings, and he received an anti-inflammatory shot after the game.

Sparkman had been with the team as a reliever, but was sent down over the weekend to make room for Blaine Boyer. The 26-year old right-hander has a 5.06 ERA in 16 innings with 14 strikeouts and five unintentional walks. In 16 starts across AA and AAA this year, Sparkman had a 3.96 ERA with 61 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 88 2/3 innings.

Danny Duffy has a history of injuries, never making 30 starts in a season, although he has 25 this year. He had two stints on the disabled list last year, suffering an oblique injury in May and a left elbow impingement in August. Duffy also had Tommy John surgery and missed most of the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Shoulder impingement comes as a result of repetitive use which can lead to inflammation. Duffy is in the second year of a five-year deal that will pay him $65 million.