Duffy feels good, ready for Opening Day start

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Royals left-hander Danny Duffy, who gave fans a scare when he left Saturday's game after two-plus innings with shoulder tightness, threw on the side on Sunday afternoon and he pronounced himself ready to go for Thursday's Opening Day start against the White Sox.
Duffy even seemed amused that reporters gathered around his locker after the 5-3 loss to the Cubs on Sunday in the Cactus League finale. The Royals finished 16-13-3.
"Hey, I didn't even play," Duffy said, smiling.
But when asked, Duffy did report he tested his left shoulder with a throwing session.
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"I threw at 100 feet," he said, "then played catch, spun some curveballs, threw some changeups.
"It felt fine. It was good."
Duffy will throw a side session in Omaha, Neb., on Monday when the Royals play their final exhibition game. Duffy will take Tuesday off and play catch at the team's workout on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium.

"Then chuck the rock on Thursday," Duffy said.
Kennedy sharp
In right-hander Ian Kennedy's final tuneup before the regular season, he went five innings against the Cubs and he gave up five hits and one run. He walked two and struck out eight.

Kennedy likely will pitch on Saturday against the White Sox in the second game of the regular season at Kauffman Stadium.
Roster moves
After Sunday's game, the Royal assigned the following players to Minor League camp: pitchers Mike Broadway, Clay Buchholz and Seth Maness; infielders Humberto Arteaga and Frank Schwindel and outfielders Billy Burns and Tyler Collins.
That leaves the Royals with 29 players in Major League camp, which does not include pitcher Jesse Hahn (60-day disabled list) or outfielder Jorge Bonifacio (suspended). Of the 29 players remaining, two (Blaine Boyer, Ryan Goins) are non-roster invitees.
Getting a look at Orlando
Royals manager Ned Yost had all of his regulars in the starting lineup on Sunday except outfielder Jorge Soler, who was replaced by Paulo Orlando.
Soler entered as a defensive replacement after five innings.
"I just wanted to give Paulo a look because he has been dealing with a sore knee," Yost said. "He had that sore hamstring and then he got a little fluid in the knee. He's fine, but we just want to test it."
Camp battles
Right-hander Burch Smith, a Rule 5 Draft acquisition trying to grab a spot in the bullpen, pitched two scoreless and hitless innings while striking out five.
Left-hander Brian Flynn, also competing for a bullpen spot, pitched a scoreless inning.
Injury update
Infielder Adalberto Mondesi, who has been battling a right shoulder impingement, made his first start in the field at second base since early March on Saturday. He will remain in Arizona for extended spring.
Outfielder Bubba Starling is still out with a strained oblique, but he began throwing on Thursday and said he expects to be hitting in 7-10 days. He also will remain in Arizona after camp breaks, but he said he expects to be ready to go to Triple-A Omaha by the third week of April.
Up next
Listen live on Gameday Audio as left-hander Eric Skoglund is expected to start at 6:05 p.m. CT on Monday in an exhibition game against Omaha at Werner Park.