Felipe Paulino (forearm) could be ready to begin a rehab assignment before the end of next week. Paulino threw a bullpen session Thursday for the first time since being diagnosed with a strained right forearm. His DL stint was backdated, so he's eligible to return on April 10, but he's not going to be ready then. Sometime in late April seems like a more reasonable target.

Felipe Paulino (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Thursday. Paulino will begin the season on the disabled list with a right forearm flexor pronator strain, but the injury isn't believed to be serious. He'll likely need at least a couple rehab starts before coming off the disabled list.

The Royals are expected to place Felipe Paulino (elbow) on the disabled list before Opening Day. Paulino is battling some minor soreness in his throwing elbow. He should be fine after resting for the first week or two of April. Luis Mendoza and Danny Duffy will open the year in the Kansas City starting rotation.

Felipe Paulino looked good against the Angels Tuesday, holding them to one run on three hits while striking out four over four innings of work. A much-needed effort from the right-hander after he was knocked around his last time out. Paulino, whose spring ERA now sits at an even 5.00, is competing for a spot in the Royals rotation and his odds have been enhanced with this outing and Aaron Crow's move back to the bullpen.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Friday that Felipe Paulino and lefty Danny Duffy have "a leg up" on the competition for the final two spots in the starting rotation. Not a surprise. Paulino tossed two scoreless innings in his spring debut Thursday against the Rockies while Duffy struck out five of the six batters he faced in two hitless innings in his first Cactus League start Friday. Yost called Aaron Crow a "contingency plan" for the rotation and also mentioned Everett Teaford, Luis Mendoza, Vin Mazzaro and Sean O'Sullivan as possibilities, but Paulino and Duffy are the clear favorites.

Felipe Paulino tossed two scoreless innings on three hits and a strikeout in Thursday's win over the Rockies. All three base hits he gave up were singles. Paulino dealt with a hamstring ailment early on in camp, but he appears to be fully recovered. Barring a spring surprise, he's expected to break camp as part of the rotation and carries some intrigue in deeper mixed formats.

Felipe Paulino (hamstring) was able to throw a full bullpen session Thursday. Paulino has been nursing a slight strain in his right hamstring since early on in camp, but it doesn't sound like a big deal. "I'm just taking it easy," he said. "I know next week I'll be throwing in a game. I just don't know what day." The 28-year-old right-hander posted a 4.11 ERA and 119/48 K/BB ratio over 124 2/3 innings last season for the Royals.

Felipe Paulino (hamstring) could throw a bullpen session Tuesday. Paulino's scheduled bullpen session was scrapped on Saturday due to hamstring tightness, but the Royals are just being cautious in the early days of spring training. The 28-year-old right-hander posted a 4.11 ERA and 119/48 K/BB ratio over 124 2/3 innings last season and could surprise in fantasy leagues if he keeps a rotation spot.

Felipe Paulino (hamstring) played catch Sunday. Paulino's scheduled bullpen session Saturday was scrapped due to hamstring tightness. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but we'll track his progress. Paulino should have a spot in the Royals rotation after holding a 4.11 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 119/48 K/BB ratio in 124 2/3 innings for the Royals last year.

The Royals and RHP Felipe Paulino avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, contract. The deal carries a $1.9 million base salary. Paulino registered a 4.46 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 133/55 K/BB ratio in 139 1/3 innings last season between the Rockies and Royals.