Duffy set to return for Independence Day start

SEATTLE -- Royals starter Danny Duffy will come off the disabled list and start against the Mariners on Tuesday at Safeco Field, the club announced Monday.
The veteran left-hander, who has been out since his May 28 outing in Cleveland in which he suffered of a right oblique strain, will face off against Mariners ace Félix Hernández.
• Cast your Esurance Final Vote for Moustakas
"When they told me six to eight weeks, my goal was to come back in four," Duffy said.
<p. a="" about="" and="" anyone="" as="" at="" back="" been="" body="" come="" could="" couple="" days="" did="" down="" everything="" excited="" fast="" fort="" four="" get="" gone="" have="" healed.="" holding="" how="" i="" imagined.="" in="" it="" job="" m="" mess="" more="" my="" not="" now="" outstanding.="" over="" p="" quickly="" re="" s="" since="" so="" team="" than="" the="" to="" try="" ve="" weeks="" where=""> Duffy's next regularly scheduled start would be Sunday afternoon against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in Los Angeles, although Kansas City manager Ned Yost wouldn't commit to that as of Monday. </p.>
For the time being, Yost was just happy to have Duffy back before the All-Star break.
"We don't try to get our mind … wrapped around getting guys back earlier than anticipated." Yost said. "If it happens, it happens, and it did with Danny."
Duffy, who is 4-4 with a 3.54 ERA, tuned up with two rehab starts for Triple-A Omaha, the last of which came Thursday in Colorado Springs. Duffy held the Sky Sox to one run on four hits over 4 2/3 innings with five strikeouts in that game, a 8-4 Omaha loss.
Meanwhile, the Royals on Monday called up right-handed reliever Al Alburquerque from Omaha and optioned left-hander Eric Skoglund to the Triple-A club, while transferring southpaw Matt Strahm (torn patellar tendon in left knee) to the 60-day disabled list.
Alburquerque, who had a 2.08 ERA in 26 innings for Omaha, figures to help a bullpen that's been used a lot in recent days. The Royals have six games in Seattle and Los Angeles this week, with an off-day Thursday.
"He's got a fresh arm, power stuff," Yost said of Alburquerque. "He hasn't thrown in four or five days, and he's a veteran. Right now we'll do whatever we need to do. … We're thin again."