Royals place Farnsworth on DL, recall Chen
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Kansas City Royals placed right-handed reliever Kyle Farnsworth on the 15-day disabled list with a right groin strain Friday and recalled lefty starter Bruce Chen to take his place. The 32-year-old Chen is scheduled to start Saturday and will pitch in the majors for the first time since April 20, 2007, with Texas. He was 4-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 14 games for Triple-A Omaha this season, and will be pitching for his 10th major league club. He takes the rotation spot of Kyle Davies, who was optioned to Omaha after going 3-7 with a 5.76 ERA in 14 starts. Farnsworth, who is 1-4 with a 4.24 ERA, hurt his groin Wednesday night in Houston. Manager Trey Hillman said Farnsworth said the high-stress nature of a right-handed pitcher on a right groin means it will be at least a week before he goes back on the mound. Farnsworth signed with the Royals as a free agent in the offseason. (Note: Bruce Chen is a Panamanian who has been pitching for years in Major League Baseball with limited success.)
