Royals' Greg Holland placed on 15-day disabled list with pectoral strain

Kansas City will have to rely on a new arm to hold leads late in games-at least for now. The Royals have placed veteran closer Greg Holland on the 15-day disabled list with a right pectoral strain, and in the corresponding move recalled Yohan Pino from Triple-A Omaha.

610 Radio's Josh Vernier notes Royal's Manager Ned Yost said Holland initially felt the pectoral pain when the Royals faced the Angels last Saturday. The pain persisted, and as a result, the club opted to schedule an MRI.

Holland, 29, made an appearance on Friday night and earned a save in the Royals' 6-4 victory over the Athletics. He has successfully saved four games in four appearances to this point in 2015, and his outing on Friday was his first since April 11 in Anaheim. Prior to being called upon to close the game against Oakland, Holland had last earned consecutive saves on April 8 and 9 against the White Sox.

The veteran closer has not allowed a hit yet in 2015, and has walked one and struck out three in four total innings of work. He saved 46 games for the Royals last season to complement a 1.44 ERA and 1.83 FIP.

While Holland is on the disabled list, Wade Davis will serve as the club's closer. Davis posted a 1.00 ERA and 1.19 FIP in 72.0 innings with Kansas City in 2014. Although he pitched out of the bullpen last season, Davis can also start as he did with the organization in 2013. While Davis has experience pitching late in games, Holland has saved 93 games over the last two seasons.

With Davis slotted as the temporary closer, Pino, 31, will join the club's bullpen. In his only outing in Triple-A, Pino tossed seven scoreless innings while striking out six and only allowing one hit in a 4-0 victory at New Orleans.