KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP/WVLT-TV) -- Former UT pitcher Luke Hochevar has made his final start of the season, the third Kansas City Royals starter to be shut down in September.

Manager Ned Yost said Thursday that Hochevar -- who has thrown a career-high 198 innings, 90 more than last season when he missed 2 1/2 months with an elbow injury -- would not pitch again this year for "his protection and his health."

Hochevar finished 11-11 with a 4.88 ERA.

Hochevar played at the University of Tennessee from 2003 until 2005. In 2005 he struck out a school record 154 batters, had a 15-3 record and 2.26 ERA for the season. He also won the Roger Clemens Award for being the best pitcher in college baseball that year.

Yost said left-hander Jeff Francis' start Thursday night against the Chicago White Sox would be his last this season. Rookie left-hander Danny Duffy was shut down after a Sept. 6 start because of his workload.

Right-handers Luis Mendoza and Vin Mazzaro, who are pitching for Triple-A Omaha in the PCL championship series, will likely move into the Kansas City rotation.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)