Yordano Ventura says 'pain is gone ... for now'

Yordano Ventura will make his return to the mound on Thursday, something he says he's completely ready for.

The Royals right-hander has been sidelined since June 12 with ulnar nerve irritation in his right elbow, which has caused bouts of numbness in his fingers.

Ventura felt a slight recurrence of these symptoms while pitching in his last rehab start for Triple-A Omaha, but doesn't expect any problems when he toes the rubber for the KC for first time in nearly a month.

"Maybe (the pain is) gone. I'm feeling great now," Ventura said via the Kansas City Star. "But I don't know if it'll start (again)."

Ventura is confident that he'll be able to pitch without any limitations or restrictions.

"If I'm feeling good, I'm throwing the whole game," Ventura said. "Just throw it right and follow Salvy (Perez)."

(h/t Kansas City Star)