Royals’ Mike Moustakas misses first start this season

Mike Moustakas, who entered Friday’s game against the A’s as the Royals’ home run leader with three, wasn’t in the starting lineup for the first time this season.

“Just a day off,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Moustakas has played through a slight hamstring injury the past few days, according to Yost, but that didn’t slow him down. He doubled in Wednesday’s victory over the Astros and collected a pair of hits Thursday, including a solo home run in the first inning.

Christian Colon started at third base Friday and is likely to open Sunday at second base, giving Omar Infante a day off.

Infante batted second Friday for the first time this season. He had two singles in Thursday’s game and brought a six-game hitting streak and .310 batting average into Friday against left-handed starter Rich Hill.

“He’s been swinging the bat really well,” Yost said. “If it had been a righty, it probably would have been (Alex) Gordon there.”

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 8:45 PM.