Royals place Danny Duffy on 10-day IL with flexor strain

The Royals have placed southpaw Danny Duffy on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 14) with a left forearm flexor strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com tweets. They’ll make a corresponding roster move Tuesday.

Whenever the phrase “forearm flexor strain” is used regarding a pitcher, it’s unsettling. So, the Royals can only hope this doesn’t make for a long absence or even Tommy John surgery for Duffy, who has been excellent this season. The 32-year-old has posted an elite 1.94 ERA with a 28.2 percent strikeout rate against a 7.1 percent walk rate over seven starts and 41 2/3 innings.

Duffy is in the final season of his contract, making this year all the more important for him. He’ll close out a five-year, $65 million deal when the season concludes. A Royal since Kansas City drafted him in Round 3 in 2007, Duffy owns a 3.95 ERA in 1,153 innings dating back to his 2011 debut.