Luinder Avila to undergo Tommy John surgery

Avila was knocked around for six runs over 2 2/3 innings in a losing effort against the Rockies on Saturday and perhaps the forearm issue contributed to those struggles. No word yet on the severity or how long the 24-year-old hurler will be sidelined for. Aaron Bummer was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move.

Avila’s last two starts have seen him give up nine runs and walked seven in seven innings, taking his ERA to 5.53. The Royals don’t have any great options for replacing at the moment, but they surely will be looking for pitching depth if they continue to sell.

Avila gave up four hits, walked four and struck out two. He cruised through the first four innings before running into trouble in the fifth inning. Avila allowed the first three batters to reach base, struck out Gleyber Torres and was removed. Lefty reliever Matt Strahm came in to face lefty Riley Greene, but a ground ball led to a fielder’s choice and an error. Two runs scored on the play and four would score in the inning with three runs and two earned runs charged to Avila. He has a 4.81 ERA as a swingman for the Royals this year. Avila is lined up to face the Rockies on the road next weekend.

Avila, who has struggled in opening frames throughout this season, gets the ball without an opener after limiting the Giants to just two runs and piling up seven punchouts over 6 1/3 innings earlier this week. The unheralded 24-year-old has emerged as a back-end rotation stabilizer for Kansas City and is starting to routinely miss enough bats that he could be interesting from a fantasy standpoint, especially in deeper mixed leagues. It’s going to take some refinement from a command and control standpoint for him to make another leap, but he’s an interesting talent.

Kolek was originally placed on the 15-day injured list back on July 19th, so he is now no longer eligible to return until about two weeks before the end of the regular season. That makes it seem likely that he will not pitch for the Royals again in 2026. He is also dealing with a family situation that has placed him on the family emergency medical list twice in the last month, so hopefully this also gives him time to be there for his family.

Avila walked one and struck out seven, which was his season high. He threw 70 percent of his pitches for strikes and posted a 13 percent swinging strike rate. On the season, he has averaged 60 percent of pitches for strikes, a 10 percent swinging strike rate, and just a 20.9 percent strikeout rate, so this was easily his best outing of the season. His slider was tremendous with an 81 percent strike rate and a 25 percent swinging strike rate as his main secondary against righties. His curveball was also great for him against lefties with an 18 percent swinging strike rate. Ever since his poor June 12th outing against the Astros, Avila has allowed 12 earned runs on 27 hits in 31 innings for a 3.48 ERA. It’s not elite production, but it could make him interesting in deeper leagues in his next start against the Tigers.

Kolek had been away from the team since July 4 due to a family medical emergency — the second time he had been placed on the list this season. He’s now dealing with an elbow issue and will have as much time away from the club as he needs.

The Orioles got to Avila a bit in the second inning, lacing four singles off the righty to drive in two runs and give the O’s an early 2-0 lead. Avila would make it through the third inning without any damage, but gave up a 450-foot homer to Blaze Alexander in the fourth inning, breaking a 2-2 tie after the Royals plated two runs of their own in the top of the frame. Avila would pitch a scoreless fifth inning before being pulled to begin the sixth. Despite an inflated 5.08 ERA at the All-Star Break, Avila has been solid as of late for the Royals, allowing three earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts.

This will be the second time that Kolek has been placed on the emergency medical list for reasons much more important than baseball. The 29-year-old will be away from the club with Jose Cuas taking Kolek’s spot on the roster.

Kolek did not strike out a batter in the ballgame. The right-hander was activated from the paternity list prior to the game and hadn’t pitched since June 21. After cruising through the first inning on nine pitches, he labored through 42 pitches during a three-run second inning. He generated four swings and misses on 51 pitches in the ballgame, posting a CSW of 24 percent. He’ll try to get back on track as he totes a 4.50 ERA and 1.24 WHIP into his final start of the season’s first half on Wednesday against the Mets in New York.