Royals player Vinnie Pasquantino breaks his thumb in bizarre play, injures two players and damages the team's playoff hopes

On Thursday night at Minute Maid Park, the Kansas City Royals lost more than a game to the Houston Astros (HOU 6, KC 3). The Royals lost their top relief pitcher Lucas Erceg and their first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino to hand injuries sustained in the same game in the eighth inning. On Friday, the Royals announced that Pasquantino has a broken thumb. His regular season is over.

The 6-8 week schedule means Pasquantino's regular season is over, although he could return in the postseason. The Division Series appears to be the earliest he could re-enter the lineup. It's possible, if not likely, that Pasquantino won't be available until later. The Royals have not yet provided an update on Erceg.

As mentioned, both injuries happened on the same play. Erceg was injured trying to catch Yainer Diaz's hard-hit chopper back to the mound with his bare hand, and Pasquantino was injured when his arm entered the runners' zone while throwing to first base. Erceg injured his right (pitcher's) hand. Pasquantino broke his right (glove) thumb. Here's the play:

Pasquantino, 26, has been Kansas City's third-best hitter all season between Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez. He is hitting .262/.315/.446 with 30 doubles, 16 home runs and 97 RBI. Those 97 RBI are the fourth-most in baseball behind Aaron Judge (123), José Ramírez (104) and Marcell Ozuna (98). Pasquantino is hitting .360 with runners in scoring position.

Nick Pratto is the obvious candidate to be called up to replace Pasquantino at first base, even though he hasn't played in Triple-A since Aug. 18 and may be rehabbing an injury despite not being on the injured list. Even if Pratto is healthy, it would be better to move Perez to first base full-time, put Freddy Fermin behind the plate, and call up a third catcher (probably Austin Nola).

Perez has started 31 games at first base this season, it's not an unfamiliar position, and Fermin has been one of Kansas City's most productive hitters in recent weeks, getting regular playing time as a DH. The Royals could file for a waiver to add a hitter before Saturday's postseason roster eligibility deadline at 11:59 p.m. ET. Tommy Pham is on the waiver listFor example.

Erceg, 29, has been a real dynamite since his move from the Oakland Athletics at the trade deadline. Even after allowing three runs and getting one out on Thursday, he has a 2.63 ERA in 13 2/3 innings with the Royals, and in those 13 2/3 innings he has struck out 16 batters. Quatraro has used Erceg in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings depending on the matchup. He has been very effective.

It goes without saying that losing Erceg for any length of time in addition to Pasquantino would be a major blow. The Royals have a 16-11 record since the trade deadline and after trailing the Cleveland Guardians by 10 games on June 25, they enter Friday's AL Central tie just 1 1/2 games behind. The Royals and Guardians play three games in Kansas City next week.

The Royals continue their series against the Astros on Friday evening. Seth Lugo (14-8, 3.19 ERA) and Framber Valdez (13-6, 3.27 ERA) are scheduled to be the starting pitchers.