Royals player Michael Lorenzen leaves the start due to lower body fatigue

WASHINGTON – Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Lorenzen left the field in the third inning of Wednesday night’s 3-0 win over the Washington Nationals because of lower-body fatigue, his first appearance since returning from the injured list.

Lorenzen (left thigh) was removed from the 15-day IL before the game and was eligible to start for the first time since Aug. 27. The Royals said Lorenzen was removed from the game as a “precautionary measure.”

He retired seven batters, struck out two and allowed no hits on 28 pitches. After a visit from the training staff, he left the game with a 1-0 lead in the middle of Nasim Nunez’s at-bat.

“I could tell my leg had reached its limit and I didn’t want to overdo it,” Lorenzen said. “We’re so close to where we want to be. And I feel like it’s more important that I’m available for that than that I’m trying to force something through.”

After the game, Royals manager Matt Quatraro expressed optimism that Lorenzen could contribute as a reliever in postseason games.

“We only have four games left in the regular season,” Quatraro said. “He’s not going to start in any of those games unless something crazy happens. But if he’s rested, I think he’ll be another player we can rely on in the bullpen.”

Daniel Lynch IV came into the game and ended another scoreless period, giving the Royals a 3-0 win.

The Royals (84-74) currently hold the second wildcard spot in the AL based on their head-to-head record, ahead of Detroit (84-74) and are 2 1/2 games ahead of Minnesota (81-76) and Seattle (82-77).

The Royals will end the season with a three-game series against Atlanta, which is currently half a game out of the final NL wild-card spot.