Dyson plays it smart with lingering groin issue

HOUSTON -- Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson felt a tweak in his left groin last Wednesday in Seattle, and it's still lingering into the series against the Astros.

Dyson was not in the lineup on Tuesday night, but that had as much to do with his history against left-handed pitching as it did with any "minor" groin limitations. He's a career .216 hitter vs. southpaws, and lefty Dallas Keuchel was Houston's starter for the middle game.

In fact, manager Ned Yost proclaimed Dyson "just fine" hours before the game.

For his part, Dyson said an expected day off is useful, though not totally necessary since he can clearly play without much, if any, hesitation.

"I've been playing on it and it wasn't really bothering me, except just pushing it here and there to test it," Dyson said.

But one play during Monday night's 6-1 loss drew at least some notice when the speedster was slightly slow up the line on a comebacker to Astros pitcher Lance McCullers.

"I have to be smart on it," Dyson said. "You don't want to blow it out on one play that doesn't matter as much in the grand scheme. I'll save my bullets, so to speak, and just make sure everything's healed up rather than push it."

For a player whose game is predicated largely on speed, that seems like a prudent plan. Dyson said he expects to be "100 percent" within a day or two.

Worth noting
• Outfielder Lorenzo Cain and shortstop Alcides Escobar returned to the lineup on Tuesday after missing time with a hamstring and split nail bed issue, respectively.