Getting set for Game 3 as the World Series shifts to San Francisco, where the wind could be a factor tonight.
Royals manager Ned Yost has made some significant changes to his lineup. With no designated hitter allowed in the National League park, Billy Butler is on the bench — as expected.
Yost, however, also removed right fielder Nori Aoki from the lineup and inserted speedy Jarrod Dyson in center, with Lorenzo Cain moving from center to right.
Yost said Kansas City needed to field its best defensive alignment in the expansive and tricky outfield at AT&T Park. Makes sense. But without Aoki in the No. 2 hole, Yost had to juggle the batting order.
Alex Gordon, a reliable run producer, moves up from sixth in the lineup to the second spot. Mike Moustakas moves up from ninth to fifth, behind cleanup man Eric Hosmer.
That puts two left-handed batters back-to-back in the middle of the lineup, followed by two right-handers in Omar Infante and Salvador Perez. That could make things easier on Giants manager Bruce Bochy as he utilizes his bullpen later in the game.
Previously, Butler batted fifth and broke up the lefties, one reason Bochy made so many pitching changes during Kansas City's sixth-inning rally in Game 2.
With the Series tied 1-all, the first pitch of Game 3 is coming up in a few minutes.