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The Kansas City Royals hope to get All-Star ace pitcher Cole Ragans back<\/a> from the 15-day injured list soon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Manager Matt Quatraro shared some encouraging news on Sunday about the right-handed starter\u2019s impending return.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey said he felt good,\u201d Quatraro said. \u201cHe held his velo. We\u2019ll see \u2014 he is not back here yet this morning. We\u2019ll see how he feels when he gets here, but everything was really encouraging from yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ragans pitched 4 1\/3 innings<\/a> in a rehab start with the Omaha Storm Chasers. He allowed three hits, including a solo homer to lead off the game, while walking a batter and registering three strikeouts. The home run was the only damage.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For the Royals, the biggest concern is obviously Ragans\u2019 health. He remains sidelined with an impingement in his left elbow. He is experiencing Valgus Extension Overload (VEO), or \u201cpitcher\u2019s elbow.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ragans received a lubricant injection for the affected area. It was done to help loosen the stiffness around his elbow. And in recent days, he progressed his throwing program to make the rehab start.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals haven\u2019t shared what Ragans\u2019 next steps might be as he works his way back to the majors. However, it\u2019s possible that Ragans could be ready to return during the KC\u2019s upcoming three-city road trip. That road swing begins after a three-game home series against the Yankees, which starts Monday and closes out the Royals\u2019 current nine-game homestand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to discuss that today once we get a chance to talk to him,\u201d Quatraro said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ragans owns a 4.84 ERA in eight starts this season. He\u2019s allowed 10 homers in 35 1\/3 innings<\/a> but has maintained a strikeout rate of 11.5 per nine innings<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Upon his return, Ragans will slot back into the rotation. The Royals are also missing left-handed starter Kris Bubic. He is dealing with elbow soreness<\/a> and like Ragans is on the 15-day injured list.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There were encouraging signs for Ragans Saturday. The Royals were impressed with his strike-throwing and efficiency on the mound. He logged 44 of 68 pitches for strikes and had five groundball outs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The fact that Ragans went back out to pitch the fifth inning was encouraging, too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think that was a really good thing for him,\u201d Quatraro said. \u201cYou know, just from the workload standpoint and from the confidence to know that sitting down and getting back up, he was good to go.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals have relied on right-hander Stephen Kolek to fill the void with starters missing from their usual rotation. Kolek was masterful on Saturday at The K against the Seattle Mariners, as he pitched a complete-game shutout<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that Kolek remains in Kansas City once Ragans and Bubic return. However, Quatraro wouldn\u2019t signal KC\u2019s plans in that regard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He did note, however, that Kolek has been instrumental in helping the Royals win games.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt helps because he has been giving us really good starts,\u201d Quatraro said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a struggle for us to put wins together and he\u2019s been a big part as the starting pitcher for the last two wins. So that\u2019s been huge for us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to speculate on what will happen when everybody\u2019s back, because you start planning for something and something else happens. It\u2019s not really worth thinking that far down the road yet.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals have lined up their rotation for the New York series that begins Monday. Seth Lugo started Sunday\u2019s series finale against the Mariners, and KC plans to start Michael Wacha on Monday \u2014 Memorial Day \u2014 and Noah Cameron on Wednesday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals had yet to announce a starter for Tuesday\u2019s game. It\u2019s likely to be a bullpen game.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll piece it together based on what happens today,\u201d Quatraro said prior to first pitch on Sunday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n