Merrifield will sit Saturday against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield got the start at second base on Opening Day, but it will be Cavan Biggio who takes over in the second game of the year. Merrifield stumbled to a .250/.298/.375 line last season and turned 34 in January, so there's no guarantee he continues to earn everyday at-bats.

Merrifield (quadriceps) will start at second base and bat leadoff in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield will rejoin the spring lineup for the first time since last Thursday after a minor right quad injury prompted the Blue Jays to hold him out for a few days. Though he'll be leading off Tuesday, Merrifield will most likely find himself in the bottom half of the batting order during the regular season, at which time George Springer is expected to serve as Toronto's primary table setter.

Merrifield has been out of Grapefruit League games since Friday due to right quad tightness, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Zwelling reports that the injury is considered minor, and the Blue Jays are being extra cautious. The long-time Royal did go through a full workout on Saturday, and he told reporters that he has more than enough time remaining in Florida to be ready for the regular season. It's an injury to keep an eye on for fantasy managers considering Merrifield for the 2023 campaign, but it appears that he's avoided a serious knock and should be ready for Opening Day.

Merrifield left Saturday's game against Seattle after taking a pitch off his helmet, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield initially stayed in the game to run the bases but was replaced by Raimel Tapia when the Blue Jays took the field. The fact that the team was leading by seven runs and inserted one of its better outfield defenders suggests that the move may have been at least somewhat tactical rather than purely injury-related.

Merrifield is out of the lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield will take a seat after starting each of the last 13 games, including the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss in Game 1 of the twin bill. He went 1-for-5 in the early game to finish the regular season with a .251/.299/.376 slash line across 548 plate appearances. Otto Lopez will replace Merrifield at second base in Game 2.

Merrifield went 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI in Monday's 5-1 win over the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

All three hits were singles, and he was caught stealing, but it was still another productive night for Merrifield. The 33-year-old has three three-hit performances in the last four games, and over his last 12 contests he's slashing a blistering .463/.477/.854 with four doubles, four homers, 10 runs and 11 RBI.

Merrifield went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI and an additional run in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Since being acquired Aug. 2 from the Royals, Merrifield has largely served as a utility player for the Blue Jays, but the hot bat he's shown of late likely has him in line to handle an everyday role at second base once the postseason begins. Heading into the Blue Jays' final series of the regular season against the Orioles that begins Monday, Merrifield is riding a six-game hit streak and has reached base in all but one of his last 11 contests. During that 11-game stretch, Merrifield is slashing .421/.439/.842 with four home runs, four doubles, nine RBI and nine runs.

Merrifield will start at second base and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Since coming over in an Aug. 2 deadline deal with the Royals, Merrifield has largely served as a reserve infielder and outfielder, but Santiago Espinal's (oblique) recent move to the injured list has reopened an everyday role for the 33-year-old. Merrifield has made the most of the opportunity thus far, going 6-for-18 with three home runs, two doubles and a walk while scoring four times and driving in six over his last five starts. If he continues to rake as the season winds down, Merrifield could stick around as the Blue Jays' top second baseman even once Espinal is activated.

Merrifield went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, three RBI and a run scored in Saturday's win over Tampa Bay.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield blasted a three-run bomb off lefty reliever Brooks Raley with one out in the seventh inning to give the Blue Jays a three-run lead. The second baseman has gone 6-for-14 during his last four games with two doubles and three home runs. The 33-year-old is pretty versatile as he has spent time at right field in 40 games, center field in 18 games and left field in five games in addition to his 74 games with time spent at second base.

Merrifield went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Thursday's loss against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

After Teoscar Hernandez led off the second inning with a homer, Merrifield came up two batters later and crushed a solo shot of his own to tie the game at 3-3. The second baseman then crushed a two-run homer in the ninth, though the game had already gotten away from the Blue Jays by that point. Merrifield hasn't gotten a whole lot of playing time recently, though he is 5-for-14 (.357) in his last 16 plate appearances with two homers, five RBI, and four runs scored while also drawing two walks in that span.