Luke Hochevar twirled three innings of one-run ball Monday against the Angels to record his first career save.

Hochevar took over in the seventh for Royals starter Luis Mendoza with a 10-3 lead. He struck out four, didn't walk a batter and allowed three hits. A bust as a starter, Hochevar may be resurrecting his career out of the 'pen, using a mid-90s heater and sick cutter to post a 1.17 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 17/3 K/BB rate over 15 1/3 innings. He's not a threat for saves in KC, yet, but fantasy owners should monitor the talented right-hander's progress.

Luke Hochevar has put up a 1.04 ERA and 11/3 K/BB ratio over 8 2/3 innings out of the bullpen this season.

Hochevar never put it all together as a starter, but he might have found a home in the bullpen. The righty's fastball is sitting in the mid-90s in relief, and he's also showing a nasty cutter. Hochever is down the pecking order for saves in a loaded Royals bullpen, but it's looking like he'll be a weapon for them.

According to CBS Sports' Danny Knobler, teams that have asked about Luke Hochevar were told the Royals want "quite a bit" in return for him.

Well, of course they would. After all, we're talking about a long reliever with a $4.65 million salary and 5.39 career ERA. It could just be posturing by Kansas City, as logic would dictate that the Royals would love simply to just unload Hochevar's salary. The Rockies had interest in the right-hander over the winter.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Wednesday that Luke Hochevar will be moved to the bullpen.

This means that the fifth spot in the rotation will come down to Bruce Chen, Will Smith, Luis Mendoza and Yordano Ventura. It's the right move, but even if Hochevar pitches well out of the bullpen, he'll still be overpaid at $4.65 million.

Royals avoided arbitration with RHP Luke Hochevar by agreeing to a one-year, $4.65 million contract.

He can earn an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses. It's a pretty hefty sum for a guy that's posted a 5.39 ERA over 771 career innings, which is why many felt the Royals would consider non-tendering Hochevar. He'll fight for a rotation spot in spring training.

Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the Royals called the Rockies to ask about their interest in Luke Hochevar, but "nothing has materialized."

The Royals really should have just non-tendered Hochevar. He's set to earn more than $4 million in arbitration, which doesn't make him attractive as a trade chip. The right-hander is also probably on the outside looking in for a rotation spot in Kansas City following the acquisition of James Shields and Wade Davis.

According to Jeff Passan of YahooSports.com, the Royals are "calling everyone" in an effort to trade Luke Hochevar and/or Bruce Chen.

The Royals are trying to free up money before they attempt to trade for a starter. The problem is that neither Hochevar nor Chen are very tradeable commodities, as they're both set to make more than $4 million in 2013 and are coming off less than stellar seasons. What is pretty clear at this point is that the Royals are pretty dead set on adding another impact starter.

Luke Hochevar was rocked for nine runs over just 4 2/3 innings in Sunday's loss to the Indians.

He allowed nine hits and three walks while hitting a pair of batters. Hochevar's 2012 campaign will conclude with 16 losses, a 5.73 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. The 29-year-old will likely earn around $4 million in arbitration this winter, but the Royals have indicated that they'll tender him a contract despite a track record of mediocrity.

Luke Hochevar put up another poor outing Monday, allowing six runs -- five earned -- on 12 hits and a walk over 7 1/3 innings in a loss to the Tigers.

It's a miracle that Hochevar lasted as long as he did, but he still threw just 104 pitches despite allowing a bevy of baserunners. It's the fifth time in his last six starts that Hochevar has allowed at least four runs, and he now has a 5.43 ERA for the season. He'll get the Tribe this weekend.

Luke Hochevar picked up a cheap victory in Wednesday's 8-6 win over the Twins, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks in five innings.

Hochevar struck out four and walked four in improving to 8-13 on the season. Worse across the board than he was in 2011, the perennially disappointing Hochevar should prove to be a poor AL-only league option in 2013.

Luke Hochevar delivered a mediocre performance in a no-decision against the Rangers on Thursday, allowing four runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Hochevar struck out five and walked two on the night. The majority of the damage against him on the night came via the longball, with Josh Hamilton launching a two-run shot in the fourth and Adrian Beltre following it up with a solo shot. He'll head into Wednesday's matchup with the Twins in Minnesota with an unappealing 7-13 record and 5.36 ERA.

Luke Hochevar was torched for eight earned runs in 1 2/3 innings Saturday in a loss to the Twins.

Hochevar walked four and surrendered six hits -- two of which were home runs. He was brilliant two weeks ago against the Rays and went eight innings on Monday versus the Red Sox, but he could not keep the good times rolling in this one. Which is pretty much the story of his young career.

Luke Hochevar took a complete-game loss after allowing five runs -- four earned -- in eight innings against the Red Sox on Monday.

It's doubtful Hochevar would have made it eight innings against a Red Sox lineup that included David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and Adrian Gonzalez, but this is a much less patient bunch. Hochevar ended up allowing eight hits, walking one and striking out six in his 12th loss of the year.

Luke Hochevar had everything working Tuesday, tossing eight scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out 10 in a 1-0 extra innings win over the Rays.

He walked three on the night. It's a shame he couldn't pick up his eighth win, but that doesn't diminish Hochevar's stellar effort. The perpetually frustrating right-hander has now posted quality starts in five of his last seven outings, but he gave up a combined 13 earned runs in the other two starts. Hochevar faces the Red Sox next.

Luke Hochevar took a no-decision in Sunday's 7-6, 10-inning win over the Rangers, allowing five runs - only one of which was earned - on four hits and one walk in six innings.

Hochevar struck out four in his second consecutive "quality start." Now the owner of a 5.04 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 93/38 K/BB ratio through 125 innings, Kansas City's maddeningly inconsistent righty will get the Orioles in Baltimore on Friday.

Luke Hochevar returned to action on Saturday July 14.

Luke Hochevar confirmed Friday that he'll make his next scheduled start following the All-Star break.

Hochevar was removed from Thursday's start against the Blue Jays with a sprained right ankle, but it's not a major concern. While we wouldn't reccomend him outside of AL-only formats, Hochevar's peripherals suggest a bounce back second half. The talented right-hander will head into the All-Star break 6-8 with a 5.14 ERA.

Though he left Thursday's start against the Blue Jays with a sprained ankle after the fifth inning, Luke Hochevar still picked up the victory.

He allowed two runs on four hits over his five innings of work, while walking one and striking out three. Hochevar has now won three of his last four starts, and appears to possibly be turning the corner. He'll head into the All-Star break 6-8 with a 5.14 ERA, though if his recent performance continues, he may actually be a productive fantasy asset in the second half of the season.

Luke Hochevar left Thursday's start against the Blue Jays after five innings due to a sprained right ankle.

Hochevar suffered the injury while trying to make a play at first base. He allowed two runs on four hits and a walk over five innings before being replaced by Tim Collins to begin the sixth. The Royals are calling his exit precautionary, so it doesn't sound too serious.

Luke Hochevar allowed five earned runs in six innings Saturday as the Royals fell to the Twins.

And all is back to normal. Hochevar entered the outing fresh off back-to-back gems, but he yielded eight hits (including three homers) and didn't register a single strikeout against one of the worst offenses in the major leagues. The right-hander is too risky for fantasy use.