ST. LOUIS -- Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the scalding-hot bat of Kendrys Morales in the starting lineup.Proof of that came Wednesday night in St. Louis, when Morales started in right field, the first time in eight years he opened a game as an outfielder. Usually a designated hitter, Morales handled four chances flawlessly, including a catch of Matt Carpenters fourth-inning drive on which he banged into the wall.That, coupled with three more hits that upped Morales average to .650 (13-for-20) in the past five games, leaves little doubt that Morales will roam right field again Thursday night when Kansas City ends its four-game interleague series with the Cardinals.I felt like he would be able to handle it, and his play tonight verifies it, Royals manager Ned Yost said. He did a nice job. His play going back to the wall was fantastic.With third baseman Mike Moustakas gone for the year and center fielder Lorenzo Cain out for at least a couple of weeks, Kansas City (41-36) needs every bat it can get in the lineup as it tries to stay within sight of streaking the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central.The presence of Morales, who can tie a major league high this year if he collects multiple hits in a sixth straight game Thursday, should help the Royals as they try to capture three of four from their enigmatic in-state rivals.Owners of one of baseballs best road records at 25-15, St. Louis has been mop water at home. A 3-2, 12-inning defeat to Kansas City on Wednesday night was the Cardinals sixth consecutive setback at Busch Stadium, dropping them to 15-22 at home for the year.By contrast, the Cardinals were a major-league-best 55-26 last year, when they were baseballs first 100-win team since 2011.I didnt know until just now what the record was, Cardinals right fielder Stephen Piscotty said after the Wednesday game of the teams home struggles. Its game-to-game for myself and a lot of guys on the team.To break the home losing streak, St. Louis (40-37) turns to right-hander Mike Leake, who is making his first career start against Kansas City. Leake (5-5, 4.25 ERA) is coming off a 5-4 loss Saturday night at Seattle, where he lasted only 3 1/3 innings and gave up all five runs.The Cardinals will need a long start from Leake after using eight pitchers Wednesday night. New closer Seung Hwan Oh, Kevin Siegrist and Jonathan Broxton could be unavailable after working the past two games.The Royals trot out veteran right-hander Chris Young, who has been pummeled most of the year. A 13-5 loss to the Houston Astros on Saturday night saw Young last only 2 1/3 innings. He allowed seven hits and seven runs with four walks and two strikeouts in his shortest start since Sept. 1, 2014.Young (2-7, 6.54) is just 1-4 with a 3.74 ERA in seven career starts against St. Louis, and he has permitted a homer in his first 11 starts this year.Young might not have to worry about Piscotty, who injured his ankle in the 12th inning diving for Alcides Escobars game-winning double and had to ice the joint after the game. Piscotty, who cracked a game-tying homer in the 10th, has played in all but four games this year. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Store . 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But Dellavedova has since moved on in free agency to the Milwaukee Bucks and, coming off the finest game of his national team career, will now go head to head with Irving in the most anticipated game to date in the mens tournament.The individual matchup generated numerous questions Tuesday before Team USAs afternoon practice at Brazils famed Clube Flamengo, sparked partly because of the Melbourne-born Irvings Aussies roots but mostly because of Dellavedovas reputation for in-your-face defense.Dellys gonna compete, Irving said. Thats all he knows. Im used to that already [from Cavaliers practices], so I dont see it as him being feisty or him being a pest. Hes gonna do what Delly does.Irving then tried to assert that he doesnt think Delly is gonna rank as the all-time peskiest guy Ive ever gone against, but Irving also didnt have a ready response when asked to name a defender he has found peskier.Dellavedova enjoyed a near-perfect outing Monday in Australias 95-80 victory over Serbia, totaling 23 points and 13 assists without one turnover. He and San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills combined for 49 points in the win over Serbia, which followed a 21-point trouncing Saturday of highly rated France to set the tone for what has been a mens tourney filled with upsets already -- excluding games featuring the United States.The Americans have romped to a 2-0 start in Group A with wins over China and Venezuela by a combined 101 points. They frankly are in need of a push, having played only one game this summer out of seven so far against what could be considered a legitimate medal contender in Rio: last months 37-point exhibition cruise in Las Vegas past aging Argentina.Hes just a continuance oof the Australian that weve played against in my 11 years, Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said of Dellavedova and his relentless style.ddddddddddddTheyve always played, first of all, with great spirit and togetherness. As good as they are individually, theyre greater as the sum of those parts.In addition to Dellavedova and Mills, Australia boasts legitimate NBA size in Dallas Mavericks center Andrew Bogut and Detroit Pistons center Aron Baynes as well as former NBA player David Andersen. Utah Jazz swingman Joe Ingles adds to the Aussies shooting threat.But Krzyzewski said he is concerned most about Australias pick-and-roll prowess and the passing ability of Bogut and Dellavedova. Its a much stronger team than the Australian squad Team USA routed by 33 points in the quarterfinals of the London Olympics in 2012, which Bogut missed because of an ankle injury.Im sure Australia sees a lot of things that they can do against us because theyre really good, Krzyzewski said. Australian basketball is terrific. ... They can beat us. We know that, and well prepare accordingly.We know that they feel like they can beat us, and we understand that. I think it will be a really good game.Said Irving: When I saw the France [score], I was like, OK, this will be a great test. We need to be beat up a little bit to prepared for whats ahead.Team USA star Kevin Durant, however, scoffed at the notion that the game will narrow down to a duel between Irving and Dellavedova.Dellys playing well, but hes not getting into no one-on-one matchup [with Irving], Durant said. Kyries a dog. Hes an animal. Thats how he approaches the game?.Irving ultimately conceded that Dellavedovas physicality led to a few rough days on the Cavaliers practice floor but said his fondness for Dellavedova is such that theyll be bonded forever.Its been good for the both of us, Irving said of their three seasons together as teammates.Yet when it comes to game day, Irving said: Just like I should be worried about him, he should be worried about me. It goes both ways?. ' ' '