Seth Lugo scratched from Saturday start, Noah Cameron “most likely” to start

Plus the Royals get Dairon Blanco back.

Noah Cameron was near perfect in his first MLB start. He may get another chance this weekend.

The Royals announced that starting pitcher Seth Lugo will be skipped for his Saturday start against the Cardinals due to inflammation in his right middle finger. According to MLB.com reporter Jackson Stone, Cameron is “most likely” to get the start.

Lugo gave up three runs in six innings in a loss to the Red Sox on Sunday.

Cameron was called up a spot start back on April 30 against the Rays to fill in for Cole Ragans, and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. He ended the start with 6 ¹⁄₃ shutout innings with just one hit allowed, although with five walks. In seven starts for Triple-A Omaha this year, the 25-year-old lefty has a 3.31 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 32 ²⁄₃ innings.

The Royals also announced today that Dairon Blanco has been activated from the Injured List, and reliever Taylor Clarke was placed on the paternity list. Blanco had been out since the first series of the year back in March due to an Achilles injury. The move gives the Royals just 12 pitchers, although Cameron will become the 13th when he rejoins the roster on Saturday. That would require another hitter to be taken off the roster. That could be catcher Luke Maile, who was called up when Salvador Perez injured his hip. But Salvy has started two games at catcher this week, making it less necessary to carry a third catcher.

Of course, if the Royals decide they need to carry three catchers, that could squeeze outfielder Hunter Renfroe from a roster spot. The 33-year-old is hitting just .176/.232/.220 in 99 plate appearances this year, and has started just four of the last ten games, and is not in the starting lineup tonight.