Marsh optioned to make room for Erceg on Royals roster

CHICAGO -- The Royals optioned right-handed pitcher Alec Marsh to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday, making room for reliever Lucas Erceg to join the active roster in Chicago and setting up a definitive role for Michael Lorenzen as a starter.

Marsh has a 4.71 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) this season but a 6.14 ERA in his previous 11 appearances (10 starts). With the addition of Lorenzen at the Trade Deadline, it was time for Marsh to reset at Triple-A -- because the Royals were clear that they believe he’s an integral part of their team now and in the future.

“It was not an easy decision for us,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “We really believe he’s going to help us win games here the rest of the year and in the future. What we think is the best thing for him is to maybe back off his innings a little bit. He’s still going to start some games there, but maybe throw fewer innings at a time just to freshen him up, so that when he does come back here, regardless of the role, he’s feeling more like himself.”

Marsh won the Royals’ fifth starter spot in Spring Training and is pitching in his first full big league season. He’s pitched 101 1/3 innings this season so far, creeping close to his career high of 136 2/3 that he logged last year between Triple-A and the Majors. Quatraro said Marsh will scale back his workload in Omaha now, pitching in the 40-60 pitch range, and start some games or pitch behind an opener to get ready for any role he’s needed for in Kansas City in these last two-plus months of the season.

Although his velocity has fluctuated in starts this year, Marsh has big stuff that could tick up in short stints out of the bullpen. The 26-year-old could help there or back in the rotation if the Royals need it at any point the rest of this season.

“I think there’s a little bit of taking the pressure off,” Quatraro said of what Marsh will work on in Omaha. “I think there’s pitch development that might come with being a little fresher and not having to think about going six or seven innings, three times through the order. … He works harder than anybody, and sometimes the harder you work, the further away it gets. Maybe just backing off a little bit of the intensity or not being in the big leagues helps him in that way.

“He’s done some really good things. One of the things I told him was, ‘We are not in a position like this to go get Lorenzen or Erceg without what [you’ve] done.’ I don’t think he should lose sight of that.”

The Royals acquired Lorenzen on Monday from the Rangers to bolster their pitching staff with a veteran arm. He’s pitched out of the bullpen and in the rotation throughout his career, and the Royals didn’t publicly say which role he would be in for them until they got through the Trade Deadline and assessed their options.

After adding Erceg from the A’s on Tuesday, as well as Hunter Harvey from the Nationals earlier this month, the club felt they upgraded their ‘pen and were better positioned to have Lorenzen pitch as their fifth starter.

The 32-year-old Lorenzen had a 3.81 ERA across 19 appearances (18 starts) this year with the Rangers. He’s expected to join the team in Detroit on Thursday and start Saturday. Seth Lugo is scheduled to start the series opener on Thursday at Comerica Park, followed by Cole Ragans on Friday. After Lorenzen, Michael Wacha will take the mound for the series finale on Sunday.