Bruce Chen (back) will be cleared for a rehab assignment if he gets through a bullpen session Sunday with no issues. Chen has already thrown a simulated game and live batting practice this week. It's not clear how many rehab starts he'll need, but he's close to returning. However, it could be as a reliever.

Bruce Chen (back) threw live batting practice on Friday. It comes after he had a successful simulated game on Monday. Chen is nearing a rehab assignment and should be ready to rejoin the Royals in early June. As long as Yordano Ventura (elbow) can avoid the DL as the Royals expect, Chen might return as a reliever.

Bruce Chen (back) felt "really good" during a 25-pitch simulated game Monday. "It felt good," Chen said. "Really good. The last three days, it really got better, significantly better." The Royals haven't decided when Chen might begin a rehab assignment, but it should be soon. With Danny Duffy pitching well, Chen might return as a reliever.

Bruce Chen (back) isn't close to beginning a rehab assignment. Chen, who is nursing a bulging disk in lower back, threw a more intense bullpen session Saturday, but he's still got a ways to go. "I don't imagine it's going to be in the next four, five, six, seven days" that he takes a mound in a minor-league game, Royals manager Ned Yost said. With Danny Duffy pitching well, Chen might not have a rotation spot waiting for him once he's ready.

Bruce Chen (back) hopes to throw a light bullpen session Wednesday. Nursing a bulging disk in lower back, Chen has been limited to playing catch to this point. There's no timetable for the veteran left-hander's return to the Royals' rotation, but he does appear to finally be making some progress.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore said Tuesday that the club is "unsure" about Bruce Chen's (back) timeline at this point. The Royals had been hoping he was ready on May 17, when they next need a fifth starter after Thursday, but that appears to be up in the air. "We're still unsure about Bruce's timeline at this point," Moore said. "He's not throwing a baseball competitively right now. And every day a pitcher doesn't, it gets to a point in time where you've got to build him back up. And those things take time."

Royals placed LHP Bruce Chen on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 25, with an inflamed disk in his back. Chen received an epidural for his back on Tuesday but didn't experience the necessary improvement to avoid a trip to the DL. It's not clear at this point how long he'll be sidelined Danny Duffy is expected to take Chen's place in the rotation.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Thursday that he expects Bruce Chen (back) to be placed on the disabled list. Chen received an epidural Tuesday for an inflamed disk in his back and apparently didn't feel any better during a bullpen session on Thursday. Danny Duffy is likely to start in his place Saturday against the Tigers, though he's likely only good for around 65-70 pitches.

Bruce Chen was given an epidural Tuesday for the inflamed disk in his back. Chen might not be able to make his scheduled start Saturday against the Tigers. The 36-year-old left-hander has posted an ugly 7.45 ERA and 1.81 WHIP this season.

The Royals are skipping Bruce Chen's spot in the starting rotation. The Royals are able to do so after Monday's scheduled off-day. Jason Vargas, Yordano Ventura, and Jeremy Guthrie will pitch against the Blue Jays this week.