THE SIDELINES : Elbow Hurts, Royals’ Davis Says

Former Cy Young winner Mark Davis, who has had trouble with control and getting batters out this year, says he has been having pain in the elbow of his pitching arm.

Davis, a left-hander, was scratched as the Kansas City Royals’ starting pitcher Friday night against Milwaukee. Tests were planned to determine the cause of the soreness.

Davis said the soreness has been felt earlier this season but he doesn’t want to use that as an excuse for his 1-7 record and 6.38 ERA this year after saving 44 games and winning the Cy Young Award last year at San Diego.

“I haven’t done well this year. I haven’t pitched well. After six appearances, I was still throwing the ball hard, and then I got wild. I don’t think (elbow problems) affected my control,” he said.

Davis, who was moved into the starting rotation after his ineffectiveness in relief, said he has been taking prescribed medication to fight inflammation at times during the season.