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Royals to pitch Ventura on short rest in potential Game 4

Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Kansas City Royals are hoping to find a silver lining in Thursday's rain-soaked loss to the Houston Astros.

Yordano Ventura, who threw just 42 pitches before getting pulled during a 48-minute rain delay at Kauffman Stadium, will likely start a potential Game 4 in Houston, manager Ned Yost told reporters after his club's 5-2, series-opening loss.

The Royals replaced their Game 1 starter after two innings Thursday because of the long delay, which Yost feared would disrupt Ventura's pace just as he was beginning to settle in.

"I felt like he was just starting to get his rhythm when the rain started," Yost said.

Ventura, the standout 24-year-old flamethrower, exited to a final line of three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk. He'll now follow Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez in the Royals' rotation, should they avoid an Astros' sweep.

Ventura's replacement, Chris Young, pitched solidly in relief just days after his father's funeral. The soft-tossing veteran limited the Astros to one run over four innings, striking out seven and walking two.

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