Lorenzo Cain's injury leads to a shocking name in right field for the Royals

With Cain on the disabled list, first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales is in right field for the first time since 2008

The Royals have another injury to a key position player. Lorenzo Cain has been placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained hamstring. He suffered the injury Tuesday night in a loss to the Cardinals. Outfielder Brett Eibner was recalled from the minors as a corresponding move.

Perhaps most interesting about the fallout here is that the Royals play in St. Louis on Wednesday night, so they lose their DH.

Jarrod Dyson moves to center field with Cain injured and Kendrys Morales is starting in right field.

Wait, what? Come again?

Yes, Kendrys Morales is starting in right field for a team that usually puts out a defensive-oriented lineup.

Morales, usually a DH, is playing right field on Wednesday. USATSI

Morales has played right field before, for all of 76 innings, the last time coming in 2008. Since then, there was his broken leg and then -- once he was recovered -- only games at first base or designated hitter. Morales is one of the slower runners in the league, too.

The defending champs haven't had the best luck this season when it comes to injuries.

Mike Moustakas is out for the season, Alex Gordon missed several weeks and now Cain goes down. Along with likely All-Star starters Salvador Perez and Eric Hosmer, that would be the offensive nucleus.

Still, the champs are hanging in there. They enter Wednesday in contention, sitting at 40-36, good for 1 1/2 games back of the second wild card.

We'll see if they can play well in spite of the Cain injury -- and Morales' appearance in right!