BALTIMORE
Royals utility man Whit Merrifield started at second base for the fourth straight day on Monday, the lineup card here at Camden Yards revealing what manager Ned Yost will not say publicly.
In an unofficial capacity, Merrifield has supplanted Omar Infante as the Royals’ regular second baseman. On Monday, he was starting at the position for the seventh time in ninth games. In a pregame session with reporters, Yost revealed that Merrifield’s last day off — a curious rest day during a 5-4 loss to Cleveland on Thursday — was initiated by a minor groin injury.