THE SIDELINES : Reliever Davis Gets Starter Call

Relief ace Mark Davis, a Cy Young Award winner at San Diego last season but a major disappointment for Kansas City this year, is going to get a chance at starting.

The Royals announced that Davis will start in Sunday’s game with the Tigers, his first appearance as a starter since June 19, 1987, when he was with the San Francisco Giants.

“It’s an opportunity to get him some innings in a different role,” said Manager John Wathan. “You keep looking for that right button to push for that switch to go on, and maybe this will be it.”

Wathan said he does not know if Davis will move into the starting rotation if he does well. He said it would be hard to find a regular spot for him if everybody on the pitching staff is healthy.

Mark Gubicza was held out of his scheduled start Tuesday and isn’t scheduled to pitch again until after the All-Star break. Storm Davis was scratched from his scheduled start against the Tigers Thursday and he was to have a sore knuckle on his right index finger examined today in Kansas City.

As a reliever, Davis’ record this year is 1-5 and his ERA is an unflattering 5.40.