Friday Bantering: Merrifield Leading Off

A change in the batting order. Merrifield leads off, and Springer is batting fifth.

Beyond that, Shohei Ohtani is playing (he came out of the game yesterday with a cramp), batting second and DHing.

As well it is Kevin Kiermaier’s 1000th MLB game.

In other news:

• And it looks like the Jays will go for a 6-man rotation. Hyun Jin Ryu will start for the Jays Tuesday, August 1st.
• After that, we’ll have Gausman, Manoah, Berrios, Bassitt and Kikuchi. I’d rather have one of them be a long man in the pen and give our bull a bit of a break, but we’ll see how it goes.
• Chad Green will pitch in the FSL tomorrow. After that, he is to pitch for the Bisons. And then, who knows?

In other AL East news:

• Aaron Judge has been activated by the Yankees.
• Kendall Graveman was traded to the Astros from the White Sox for catcher Korey Lee.
• The Dodgers picked up Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly from the White Sox, who get OF Trayce Thompson, RHPs Nick Nastrini (L.A.’s No. 9 prospect) and Jordan Leasure