Gordon still dealing with hip, neck soreness

ARLINGTON -- Royals manager Ned Yost said left fielder Alex Gordon is still a bit banged up from his diving catch Wednesday afternoon in St. Louis. The right hip and neck soreness caused by that play has kept Gordon out of the starting lineup for the first two games of a four-game set against the Rangers, but Yost said on Friday that he didn't foresee a disabled list stint for Gordon.
"I absolutely do not -- I see him probably playing tomorrow, if not tomorrow, the next day for sure," Yost said.
Asked if players of Gordon's caliber have to strike a balance between risking their health and being more cautious while trying to make plays, Yost said Gordon is firmly in the former category.
"That's why he's got five Gold Gloves -- it's not on his mind," Yost said. "He goes after everything he can catch."
Gordon started 28 of the previous 29 games after returning on April 24 from a 13-game DL stint due to a left hip injury.
Duffy gives bullpen a rest
Danny Duffy's 7 2/3-inning start on Thursday gave the Royals' bullpen a much-needed breather after they were heavily taxed during their three-game series against the Cardinals before facing the Rangers.

Five Royals relievers -- Blaine Boyer, Jason Adam, Brad Keller, Kelvin Herrera and Kevin McCarthy -- threw a combined 9 1/3 innings over eight appearances against the Cards, but all of them got a night off on Thursday when Tim Hill finished the 8-2 win at Globe Life Park.
The Royals' bullpen entered Friday's game with the worst opponents' batting average in the American League at .281 and the second-worst relievers' ERA at 5.17. But the domino effect from Duffy's start could last for days, Yost said.
"It just gives everybody a break," Yost said. "Tim Hill hadn't thrown in five days yesterday and it kept our long guys in place, it kept the guys that had been worked a lot in the St. Louis series with McCarthy and Herrera and Keller, an extra day was huge. It just helps."