Just the other day, the Kansas City Royals placed Bruce Chen on the disabled list, which was bad news considering Chen began the season as the Royals' best starter. He was scheduled for an MRI on his shoulder, and now we have the results:

Exam reveals inflammation in LHP Bruce Chen's left lat. Will be shut down for seven days before starting throwing program....

Added Bob Dutton in a separate tweet:

Royals now thinking Chen will be out three weeks, but that's highly subject to change.

Three weeks without Bruce Chen is bad news for the Royals, but it's an awful lot better than three months without Bruce Chen, in this weird world of ours in which Bruce Chen is the most dependable and effective member of a Major League starting rotation.

Expect Vin Mazzaro to hang on to Chen's rotation spot until he comes back. In Mazzaro's first start, he allowed two runs in four innings against the Yankees, with four walks and two strikeouts.