Alex Gordon will start tonight and bat in the two-hole behind Ben Zobrist. Both players have excellent on-base percentages and could easily be a lead-off hitter, but Manager Yost is keeping Zobrist ahead of Gordon, “because right now Ben is faster than Alex.” Yost’s current plan for Gordon is to play every-other-day this week, then play two games followed by a day off during the next road trip and finish by playing every three days before a day off in order to prepare for a playoff series.
The Royals have been resting players over the past week or so to get back to full strength for the playoffs. According to Yost every player who has needed rest received at least a day off and the Royals will be using their best lineups until they clinch the division and potentially home field advantage. If they Royals are able to clinch their division, Yost will begin to rest players as needed to ensure that they are at their best for the postseason.
By Sal Defeo
