Royals scratch Noah Cameron due to lower back tightness

The Kansas City Royals announced a pitching change shortly after Monday’s win over the Cleveland Guardians.

Starter Noah Cameron (2-2, 5.40 ERA) was scratched from the lineup with lower back tightness. Right-hander Stephen Kolek was called up from his rehab assignment in Triple-A Omaha and swapped for righty reliever Mason Black, who was sent to Omaha.

Kolek, 29, was slated to make his season debut Tuesday opposite Gavin Wiliams (5-1, 2.70), the second pitcher in the Guardians’ rotation.

He missed most of spring training with a left oblique strain after starting the first game. In four rehab starts, he allowed five earned runs with 14 strikeouts to four walks in 16 1/3 innings.

Kolek enters his second season with the Royals. The team traded away beloved catcher Freddy Fermín to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline last season for Kolek and pitcher Ryan Bergert. Last season as a Royal, Kolek garnered a 1-2 record and 1.91 ERA while racking up 21 strikeouts.

“First of all, I’m just happy for him that he’s healthy,” manager Matt Quatraro said of Kolek.

Before the game, Quatraro said he liked Kolek’s efficiency and pitch mix in his rehab assignments.

“He did such a nice job for us last year,” Quatraro continued. “We know how hard he worked in the offseason to prepare, and … for him to work his way back and throw the ball really well in Omaha, it’s exciting to see him.”

When talking to reporters Tuesday, Cameron said he felt good enough to start, calling his back spasms “very moderate.” But he decided to sit out and rest with a long season ahead.

“I think if it was August, September … I would be very capable of pitching through it,” Cameron said. “Right now, just trying to be smart and … see where we are. It’s a lot better. So I’ll be ready kind of whenever.”

Cameron last pitched on Thursday, April 30, against the A’s. He allowed five runs (four earned) and two walks with five strikeouts in a 6-3 loss. By Sunday, his back still had “a little bit of tightness” and the team decided to call Kolek up.

The team hasn’t figured out when Cameron will return, but Quatraro anticipates Cameron missing this one start because of injury. It’s an early challenge for Kansas City’s depth as the team attempts to climb the AL Central standings.

KC entered Tuesday’s action 16-19. The Guardians and Tigers sat in first at 18-18.

“It’s (the depth) going to be challenged again at some point. But the quality of that depth is really important,” Quatraro said.