Royals’ Danny Duffy to bypass next start

Kansas City left-hander Danny Duffy will bypass his next turn in the rotation because of a sore shoulder.

Manager Ned Yost said Monday that an MRI exam didn’t show any structural damage in Duffy’s shoulder. Duffy left his start Saturday against the New York Yankees after one pitch.

“He’s in Kansas City going through three or four rounds of treatment every day,” Yost said before the Royals played at Detroit. “We’ll evaluate him when we get back.”

Duffy is 8-11 with a 2.42 earned-run average.

Orioles’ J.J. Hardy to have lower back examined

Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is headed to Baltimore to be examined by a team doctor because of lower-back issues.

Hardy was in Boston for Baltimore’s three-game series with the Red Sox. He is expected to have an MRI exam.

The veteran left a game in Minnesota the week before because of the issue and did not play in Baltimore’s last two games against at Tampa Bay over the weekend.

Reds’ pitcher Dylan Axelrod leaves game early

Cincinnati Reds starter Dylan Axelrod strained his right oblique and came out of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals after only seven pitches.

The right-hander was making his fourth start for Cincinnati, which got him from the Chicago White Sox for cash July 16. He was 1-2 in his first three starts for the Reds.