With no DH, Kendrys will come off bench at Citi

NEW YORK -- While there had been some discussion among the Royals' coaching staff during the regular season of using designated hitter Kendrys Morales in the outfield in the World Series, it doesn't appear that will be the case.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Morales will be on the bench in the Series for the two or three games under National League rules here at Citi Field. The Royals, who lead the Series 2-0, and Mets play Game 3 on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET air time on FOX, 8 p.m. game time).

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"He will be missed in the everyday lineup," second baseman Ben Zobrist said. "He's an impact bat who can change a game with one swing. But it will be nice to have that bat coming off the bench."

The Royals had Morales taking fly balls in the outfield during the team's final road trip through Cleveland in September. Morales actually was signed as a center fielder out of Cuba.

"He's more athletic than you think," Yost said at the time. "We're just keeping our options out there. I know it sounds crazy, but he can hold his own out there."

The Royals could have experimented with Morales in right field during a late-season makeup game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Yost decided against it because of the injury risk and because right fielder Alex Rios' offense began to pick up.

And Rios is having an excellent postseason, hitting .308 with a .793 OPS.