Rookie Miguel Almonte could draw a spot start Thursday at Yankee Stadium as the Royals patch together their starting rotation after an injury to right-hander Nathan Karns.
The Royals have not officially placed Karns on the disabled list, yet Royals manager Ned Yost said Tuesday that it remains unlikely that Karns will make his next start. For now, the club has a vacancy in its rotation on Thursday afternoon, the final game of a four-game series against the Yankees. Yost is leaning toward Almonte, he said.
Starter Ian Kennedy was an option to start on short rest Thursday after tossing just two innings in a loss on Sunday.