Royals' Sam Long: Should resume throwing this weekend
Rotowire
Long (elbow) is expected to resume playing catch this weekend, MLB.com reports.
After Long was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to left elbow inflammation, doctors advised him not to throw for five days while he waited for the swelling to subside. Assuming Long is cleared to start throwing again after the five-day shutdown, he likely won't require a lengthy ramp-up period, given that the Royals plan to deploy him as a 1-to-2-inning reliever once he's activated.
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Royals' Sam Long: On IL with elbow inflammation
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The Royals placed Long on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to left elbow inflammation.
Long's move to the IL comes after he gave up three earned runs on two hits and two walks over one inning in relief in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Guardians. The elbow issue may have contributed to the left-hander's struggles this season, as he's turned in a 12.86 ERA and 2.43 WHIP across seven appearances. Kansas City called up southpaw Evan Sisk from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move.
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Royals' Sam Long: Rough start to season
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Long allowed three runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one over an inning Saturday against the Guardians.
Long has struggled to begin the season, giving up 12 runs (10 earned) with five walks in seven innings. He was a productive reliever for the Royals last season with a 3.16 ERA and 44:17 K:BB in 42.2 regular-season innings, so he may get some time to turn his season around. However, he may be limited to low-leverage situations for a while.
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Royals' Sam Long: Set to pitch Wednesday
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Long (hand) is scheduled to make an appearance out of the bullpen in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Long will be making just his third appearance of the spring and his first since March 3, when he was struck in the left hand by a line drive. The southpaw dealt with some residual swelling to his pitching hand as a result, but he was able to resume throwing a few days later. The 29-year-old remains firmly in the mix for a spot in Kansas City's Opening Day bullpen.
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Royals' Sam Long: Throws despite sore hand
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Long, who was hit by a line drive in his left hand during Monday's spring game, threw a bullpen session Thursday despite some swelling, MLB.com reports.
Long had test results that showed he didn't suffer any broken bones after he reached to grab a liner and it deflected off his pitching hand. It's possible his next appearance this spring gets delayed, however, so he could fall behind for being ready for Opening Day.
Long (3-3) allowed a run on one hit and one walk while striking out three over 1.1 innings to take the loss versus Atlanta on Saturday.
Long gave up a walk-off solo home run to Travis d'Arnaud in the ninth inning. September has been a little rough for Long -- he's allowed seven runs over 11.1 innings, though he has an 11:3 K:BB in that span. The southpaw reliever has a 3.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 44:17 K:BB through 42.2 innings, making him a decent option for a spot in the Royals' postseason bullpen.
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Royals' Sam Long: Takes second loss
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Long (3-2) allowed three runs on three hits and struck out one over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Monday versus the Tigers.
Long allowed a two-run double to Wenceel Perez in the sixth inning, and John Schreiber allowed an inherited runner to score the decisive run, which stuck Long with the loss. While he's generally been steady this year, Long has faded in September, allowing five runs over seven innings this month. The southpaw is now at a 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 38:16 K:BB with one save and six holds through 38.1 innings this season.
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Royals' Sam Long: Picks up win in Game 2
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Long (3-1) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader versus the Guardians.
Spot starter Alec Marsh was unable to complete five innings, leaving the win to Long after the Royals took the lead in the top of the fifth. Long has allowed two runs with a 6:6 K:BB over 7.1 innings in August, earning a win and two holds. Overall, he has a 2.37 ERA despite a 1.25 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB over 30.1 innings this year, and he's added one save and five holds while mostly seeing low-leverage work.
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Royals' Sam Long: Snags first save of season
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Long struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his first save of the season in a 4-3 win over the White Sox.
With James McArthur having coughed up eight runs in his last three appearances and trade-deadline acquisition Lucas Erceg not yet having joined the team, Long got a look in the ninth and carved up Chicago's 6-7-8 hitters. The southpaw has given up only one run in 8.1 July innings with a 9:1 K:BB, and while he's unlikely to see many additional save chances, Long appears to be establishing himself as the top option from the left side in the Kansas City bullpen.
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Royals' Sam Long: Earns second win
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Long (2-1) walked one and struck out four over 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the win Thursday over the Guardians.
Long worked in the sixth and seventh innings after a strong start from Michael Wacha. The Royals pulled ahead 2-1 in the sixth inning, and Long did his part to keep the score there. The southpaw has been scored on in just three of his 14 appearances this season, pitching to a 1.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB over 13.2 innings in a low-leverage role. The Royals' bullpen has been a weak spot this year, so it's possible Long could find himself in a more prominent role if he continues to have success.
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Royals' Sam Long: Picks up win Thursday
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Long (1-1) allowed two walks and struck out one over one scoreless and hitless inning to earn the win Thursday over the Guardians.
Long took a loss in his previous outing, but he bounced back to get the win this time around. While he wasn't sharp with the two walks, he was able to keep runs off the board. Long hasn't been charged with an earned run yet, allowing two unearned tallies on one hit and three walks with six strikeouts over 6.1 innings this season. He's been pitching in close games recently, but he still sees most of his action in the middle innings, so it's unlikely he gets a look for save chances any time soon.
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Royals' Sam Long: Takes first loss
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Long (0-1) allowed two unearned runs on one hit and one walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Tuesday versus the Guardians.
Long put two runners on base before giving way to Angel Zerpa in the seventh inning. A Bobby Witt error would allow three runs to score, including the two on Long's line that sent him to the loss. He still hasn't given up an earned run over 5.1 innings this season, and he's generally pitched well with a 5:1 K:BB in a low-leverage role since he was brought up to the majors May 20. Long has previous experience as a starter, but none of his six big-league appearances this year have exceeded one inning. He went longer than an inning in eight of his 15 outings for Triple-A Omaha prior to his call-up, so he could still be called on to provide length out of the bullpen.
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Royals' Sam Long: Contract selected
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The Royals selected Long's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
Long earns a look with the big club after putting up a 1.31 ERA and 23:5 K:BB over 20.2 innings at Omaha. The left-hander holds a career 4.92 ERA over 80 appearances (12 starts) at the major-league level.
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Royals' Sam Long: Inks minors pact with Royals
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Kansas City signed Long to a minor-league contract Thursday.
Long was outrighted off the 40-man roster in Oakland at the end of the 2023 regular season after struggling to a 5.60 ERA and 32:21 K:BB across 45 innings. The 28-year-old left-hander joins the Royals as organizational bullpen depth for the 2024 campaign.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Loses 40-man roster spot
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Long cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.
The Athletics needed to do some 40-man roster maneuvering and felt Long's spot could be put to better use. He put up a 5.60 ERA and 32:21 K:BB over 45 innings out of Oakland's bullpen this season.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Sent down to Triple-A
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Long was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Long was knocked around for four runs (three earned) over 1.2 relief innings in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays. He'll be replaced by a fresh bullpen arm.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Recalled to MLB bullpen
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Oakland recalled Long from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
Long will give the Athletics some extra bullpen depth with rosters expanding from 26 to 28. The 28-year-old left-hander has posted a 5.27 ERA and 32:18 K:BB in 42.2 major-league innings this season.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Long was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.
Long had been in the big leagues since the Athletics acquired him from the Giants in late April. He's struggled to a 5.27 ERA in 42.2 innings, striking out just 17.3 percent of opposing batters. Francisco Perez was called up to take his place in the bullpen.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Takes first loss Friday
Rotowire
Long (0-1) took the loss as an opener against the Red Sox on Friday, allowing three earned runs on three hits and a walk over one-plus inning. He struck out two.
Long's considerably busy line is the byproduct of two very different frames. The left-hander got through the opening inning unscathed, working around a Justin Turner single. However, Long failed to retire any of the three hitters he faced to open the second inning, leaving the bases loaded for Luis Medina. All three inherited runners eventually came across, saddling Long with his second three-earned-run tally in the last four outings. Despite the occasional hiccup, Long has contributed two saves and two holds along with a serviceable 4.36 ERA across 26 appearances.
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