Medlen picked up his third win of the season Saturday, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over 5.1 innings while striking out five.

He hasn't been great in his two starts for the Royals, but Medlen has lasted just long enough and gotten enough run support to win them both. He'll try to make it three straight victories on Friday, at home against the White Sox.

Medlen won his first start of the year and improved to 2-0 Monday against the Orioles, as he allowed three runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out six and didn't walk a batter.

Medlen was more than capable in his first start since the 2013 playoffs. He showcased pinpoint control, as he threw 49 strikes in 69 pitches and faced just one three-ball count all night. Medlen had a pristine 1.9 BB/9 over 335 innings from 2012 through 2013, and that will be the key to any success he has in this return stint with the Royals.

Medlen will get the start for the Royals on Monday against the Orioles, Andy McCullough of the KC Star reports.

Medlen will make his first start of the season after serving in a bullpen role since coming off the 60-day DL in mid-July. He's performed well as a reliever, allowing only four runs in 14.1 innings and holding a 1.05 WHIP with a 14:5 K:BB. Though the team is yet to offer official confirmation, it looks as though Jeremy Guthrie may be bounced from the rotation, something that manager Ned Yost seemed to hint at earlier in the week. Given the fact that Medlen has not started a game since 2013, he'll likely see his pitch count limited, despite the Royals' efforts to stretch him out while rehabbing earlier this season. Pitching coach Dave Eiland remarked Friday that Medlen will probably require two to three starts before he reaches the 90-100 pitch plateau.

Medlen had a rough start to his 2015 season, allowing four earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts over 3.1 frames after entering the game in relief of Yordano Ventura.

Medlen hasn't pitched in the big leagues since the 2013 postseason, with his last Major League appearance coming as a member of the Braves. Two Tommy John surgeries later, the 29-year-old is on the comeback trail, although his 2015 debut didn't quite go as anticipated. He struck out the first two batters he faced, but then surrendered a two-run home run to Travis Ishikawa -- his first of the season. Medlen then retired seven of the next eight batters before Ishikawa collected another double. After posting a 3.56 ERA and 20:5 K:BB ratio over 30.1 rehab innings, Medlen will now settle in to a long relief role. He'll ultimately be victimized by the depth of the Kansas City rotation, likely needing an injury above him in order to be considered for a starting role.

Medlen (elbow) was activated from the 60-day disabled list Monday, Andy McCullough of the KC Star reports.

Medlen was stretched out as a starter during his rehab assignment, but he'll only have a job in the bullpen with the Royals. If the team needs a spot starter or rotation replacement, Medlen and Chris Young will be the top two choices, assuming Young is demoted to the bullpen when Jason Vargas (hip) returns Tuesday.

The Kansas City Royals activated Kris Medlen from the disabled list Tuesday after he recovered from Tommy John surgery, according to the Kansas City Star.

The Kansas City Royals activated Kris Medlen from the disabled list Tuesday after he recovered from Tommy John surgery, according to the Kansas City Star. Medlen was stretched out as a starter during his rehab assignment, but he will return to the big club as a long man and rotation depth after making 31 starts with the Atlanta Braves in 2013. "I had a pretty good time this time going through it compared to last," Medlen told ESPN, referring to the fact that he underwent the surgery when he was with the Braves in 2010. "With this good of a team and this good of people to be around, it's made it a lot easier and watching some really good baseball, it's got me pretty fired up to come back." Medlen has a 2.95 ERA with 434 strikeouts in 512.2 career innings.

Medlen (elbow) will be activated Monday, per manager Ned Yost, Andy McCullough of the KC Star reports.

Medlen made his most recent rehab appearance at Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday, throwing seven scoreless innings. He'll pitch out of the bullpen upon his return to the Royals, however, with the team currently listing six starting pitchers. The longer-term plan regarding the rotation remains unknown, but Medlen could certainly return to a starting role at some point.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen will be activated from the disabled list on Monday after recovering from an elbow injury, according to the Kansas City Star.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen will be activated from the disabled list on Monday after recovering from an elbow injury, according to the Kansas City Star. Medlen has not pitched in the major leagues since undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in March 2014 and is expected to join the team's bullpen, although he could eventually earn a role in the starting rotation.

Medlen (elbow) threw seven scoreless innings in a rehab outing with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday, Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports

Medlen's rehab assignment will end Saturday, at which point the Royals will need to make a decision on his status with the team. With six pitchers already listed in the rotation, it's unclear what the club would do with him, but it still seems a possibility that he bumps one of the current starters out of the rotation.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen threw seven scoreless innings in his final Double-A rehab start Wednesday as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, according to the Kansas City Star.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen threw seven scoreless innings in his final Double-A rehab start Wednesday as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, according to the Kansas City Star. Medlen has made six starts in the minors, and his 30-day rehab stint expires Saturday, at which point the Royals will need to make a roster move. Medlen has not pitched in the majors since posting a 3.11 ERA over 31 starts for the Atlanta Braves in 2013.

Medlen (elbow) has transferred his rehab assignment to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and will pitch Wednesday.

Medlen has progressed to the late steps of his rehab from his second Tommy John surgery, but hasn't had a lot of success in his rehab assignment. The 29-year-old hasn't pitched in a major league game since 2013, but that could come at some point in the near future. His role with the Royals could be different, however, as the club already sports six in its current rotation.

Medlen (elbow) gave up two runs on four hits over 3.2 innings during Monday's rehab start for Triple-A Omaha, Matthew DeFranks of FOX Sports Kansas City reports.

Making his first rehab appearance at the Triple-A level, Medlen failed to record a strikeout on 72 pitches. He started the assignment June 19, and it will likely stretch close to the 30-day maximum. Medlen should be an option for either the starting rotation or bullpen shortly after the All-Star break.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen, sidelined with an elbow injury, allowed two runs in 3.2 innings in a rehab outing with Triple-A Omaha on Monday, according to Fox Sports Kansas City.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen, sidelined with an elbow injury, allowed two runs in 3.2 innings in a rehab outing with Triple-A Omaha on Monday, according to Fox Sports Kansas City. Medlen could return to the big club shortly after the All-Star break.

Medlen (elbow) is slated to make a rehab start at Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Friday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Medlen remains hopeful to be ready by the All-Star break, but the Royals apparently have him on a 30-day rehab scheduled, so it seems more likely that he'll be back with the big league club shortly after the break, barring a setback.

Medlen (elbow) should be ready to return by the All-Star break according to manager Ned Yost, Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports.

There's no way to know what kind of Kris Medlen to expect when he finally returns, but the Royals will likely welcome some pitching help, be it in what has been their beleaguered rotation or stacked bullpen. However, there are still several steps for Medlen to go through before he's ready.

Medlen (elbow) will throw a simulated game Thursday, Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore said Thursday that Medlen is nearing a rehab assignment, and it's seemingly possible the right-hander could start one as soon as next week or weekend. Medlen's assignment will likely be a lengthy one, making a return before the end of June or early July unlikely. Right around the All-Star break is probably a fair target.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen will throw a simulated game Thursday while recovering from an elbow injury, according to the Kansas City Star.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen will throw a simulated game Thursday while recovering from an elbow injury, according to the Kansas City Star. Medlen will likely be out until the middle of July.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore said Thursday that Medlen (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment soon, Andy McCullough of The Kansas City Star reports.

Now 14 months removed from Tommy John surgery, Medlen is seemingly still on track to join the Royals in late June or July. It's unclear whether he'll eventually land in the bullpen or rotation, and that may depend on how he pitches during the eventual rehab assignment.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen will begin a rehab assignment soon while recovering from Tommy John surgery, according to the Kansas City Star.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Medlen will begin a rehab assignment soon while recovering from Tommy John surgery, according to the Kansas City Star. Medlen could join the big club in late June or July.

Medlen (elbow) pitched an inning in an extended spring training game this week, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Medlen has been slowly rebuilding strength in his elbow as he works his way back from a second Tommy John surgery, which he underwent a little over 14 months ago. It's uncertain what role Medlen will assume upon his expected return in the second half, but the team may opt to use him out of the bullpen as the Braves did following his first procedure.