The Kansas City Royals announced Thursday morning that All-Star outfielder Alex Gordon will miss at least eight weeks because of a groin strain. Here are five things to know about how it affects the AL Central leaders:

Alex Gordon goes down
It was looking pretty dark for Alex Gordon on Wednesday night. (USATSI)

1. It could be worse. When he fell to the ground near the warning track chasing a fly ball Wednesday night, the first thoughts that popped into many head probably were the worst. Just three years ago, in a similar spot on the field at Kauffman Stadium, Mariano Rivera of the Yankees blew out his knee shagging balls during batting practice. If Gordon had torn his ACL, he would have been out until the All-Star Game next season. His groin could be worse, too. Kansas City's medical staff reported that Gordon's groin muscle did not detach from the bone so, even though he heard an ominous "pop," it's not the most severe kind of groin tear, one that definitely would keep him out the rest of the season.

2. Gordon is Kansas City's best player on both sides of the ball. He has posted a .279 batting average, a .852 on-base-plus-slugging percentage and 11 home runs -- second on the team -- and played in 78 of 82 possible games. He was on pace to have his best hitting season since 2011. Gordon also rates as the best left fielder on defense in Major League Baseball, with Kauffman Stadium having one of the bigger pastures to cover. On their way to an AL-leading 49 victories, the Royals have saved 40 runs above average on defense, which also leads the league.

3. The Royals can put Jarrod Dyson in left field while Gordon's out. A natural center fielder, Dyson will be able to cover a lot of ground in the outfield, probably more than Gordon, though he doesn't have a lot of experience in left. That didn't bother Dyson on Wednesday night when he picked up the team's spirits by throwing a runner out at home to complete a double play. The problem is Dyson's .322 career on-base percentage and a lack of power. It's even more of a problem when you look over in right field and see Alex Rios, who is batting .221 with a .510 OPS and replacement-level defense. If Rios were playing closer to his career averages, Gordon's temporary loss would not impact the Royals as much. Paulo Orlando, who has sparked the team with with an oddly abundant amount of triples, will be the other half of a platoon.

4. Gordon's long-term absence might finally prompt general manager Dayton Moore to improve the team's depth. Moore has done a better job than anyone thought possible at building a World Series contender (perhaps outside of CBSSports.com's own Jon Heyman), but the Royals obviously need at least one more outfielder of a starting caliber, and quickly. They lead the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central by 4 1/2 games, the Detroit Tigers by seven games and the Cleveland Indians by 10. But a half-season is a long grind, and there's still plenty of time for KC's lead to evaporate. Improving the team in the outfield, second base and backup catcher, so they don't have to over-rely on Salvador Perez again, should be on his agenda. And they still need another very good/great starting pitcher. Johnny Cueto and Cole Hamels are the best on the trade market.

Have some Gatorade
Have some water, Jarrod. (USATSI)

5. The Royals won't let this get them down collectively. Gordon was the team's leader in every way, and it's easy to imagine a sick feeling in the pit of the stomach coming over his teammates on the Royals as Gordon rode off on the athletic trainer's cart with his head shrounded in a towel. It's funny, though, because the Royals already know they won't let emotionally down with Gordon out:

The Royals that Gordon's injury left behind will take care of business. Now it's time for the front office to step up with reinforcements. It's tricky, because Gordon's injury makes them look vulnerable, but Moore has accumulated enough pieces in the farm system to make a productive trade or two work. Now is the time to cash in some of those chips. The Royals won't be World Series favorites forever.