Dyson starts in center field over slumping Cain

MINNEAPOLIS -- Jarrod Dyson got the nod over Lorenzo Cain to start in center field for the Royals on Thursday night, and not just because a right-hander was starting for the Twins and Dyson swings left-handed.

That figures into it, but so do other factors such as matchups, and that Cain was in a 0-for-18 slide and Dyson was 3-for-7 since coming off the disabled list.

"Cain's one of those guys that when he gets hot, he gets hot and he's smoking balls all over the park," manager Ned Yost said. "Right now he's in a little bit of a lull offensively, so you take the advantage to get Dyson some games in there because you know when Cain gets hot, nobody's going to be playing but him."

Yost says he's not ready to return Dyson to the leadoff spot, where he was before going on the disabled list.

"Not right now. I like the way it sets up right now," Yost said, meaning with Alex Gordon at the top.