The Royals had to make a difficult decision due to their injury-riddled starting rotation. The club has three starters — Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic and Michael Lorenzen — currently on the injured list and needed a fresh arm to avoid taxing the bullpen. Hill was the odd man out.

Kansas City took two of three each from the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland in back-to-back series and are 13-8 in July following an 8-18 month of June. Hill hasn't faced the Braves since 2022, while pitching for Boston, but is 5-0 with a 2.63 ERA in 54 2/3 innings over 11 career games (nine starts) against them.