How about this Royals lineup? Jeff Keppinger playing first base and batting second, Esteban German in the No. 3 slot, and Angel Sanchez playing second base.

Those were some wrinkles that interim manager Billy Doran threw at the lineup card on the wall, and they stuck. And, basically, it was because of a rash suffered by first baseman Ryan Shealy.

"He's at the dermatologist now," Doran reported late Tuesday afternoon.

"He's had it for a few days and really hasn't slept at all."

When Shealy reported to the clubhouse later, athletic trainer Nick Swartz said the dermatologist's diagnosis was a case of the hives.

For a team that began the season with first basemen lurking everywhere -- Doug Mientkiewicz, Matt Stairs, Mike Sweeney, Justin Huber, even Tony Graffanino and Aaron Guiel -- the cupboard was almost empty when Shealy went down.

Sweeney remained but, with his balky back, he had not played first base all season and Doran wasn't going to take that chance. So he turned to Keppinger, who played a couple of games at first this year for Triple-A Omaha.

It might have been a good time for a break for Shealy, anyway. He was in a two-for-23 slump.

Keppinger also batted second, just ahead of Esteban German, who smiled broadly when he took a glimpse at the lineup.

"This is the first time," he said of the No. 3 assignment.

Sanchez, brought up from Double-A Wichita strictly as a shortstop, was put at second base because German was playing third and Andres Blanco was injured.

Has there been any second base experience for Sanchez?

"A couple of times," he said. "Four years ago."

Sweeney, of course, wanted to play first base, but he accepted Doran's decision.

Doran watched the reactions as reporters and players looked at the unusual lineup. He wondered what manager Buddy Bell might think when he peruses the box score in Arizona.

"I hope he's not even able to read," Doran said.

Home rest for Bell: Bell, who left the Mayo Clinic on Monday, is recovering from his throat surgery at his home in Chandler, Ariz.

"His son, Michael, said they'd have a follow-up with the doctors on Thursday," Doran said. "I guess they'll get the news then."

That refers to results of a biopsy on the growth removed during the surgery.

Blanco to LA: Blanco, who suffered a subluxation and labrum cartilage tears on Sunday, will go to Los Angeles on Wednesday to confer with Dr. Frank Jobe on possible surgery.

If Blanco decides on surgery, he's expected to be out for about six months. The shortstop was batting .241 in 33 games for the Royals.

Wood with family: Pitcher Mike Wood is with his fiancé, Angie, in Miami, Fla., where their infant son is in a hospital. The child was born Sept. 19. Wood hopes to rejoin the club before the season ends on Sunday.

Up next: The Royals meet the Twins in the third of four games at 7:10 p.m. CT Wednesday at the Metrodome. Left-hander Mark Redman (10-10, 5.83 ERA) will be matched against Twins right-hander Carlos Silva (10-14, 5.95 ERA).