Isiah

Kiner-Falefa

Once again, Roman Anthony is in the leadoff spot, he’s just serving as the designated hitter while Jarren Duran patrols the outfield. The only difference between Sunday’s lineup and what the team had been expected to use on Opening Day is Isiah Kiner-Falefa is in there at second base while Marcelo Mayer is riding the pine. He really will need to earn his spot this spring. Here’s the full lineup for Sunday: Roman Anthony (DH), Trevor Story (SS), Jarren Duran (LF), Willson Contreras (1B), Wilyer Abreu (RF), Caleb Durbin (3B), Ceddanne Rafaela (CF), Carlos Narvaez (C), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B).

Anthony will get a few exhibition games under his belt with the Red Sox before joining Team USA for next month’s World Baseball Classic. The 21-year-old on-base machine’s perch atop Boston’s formidable lineup, which features offseason acquisition Willson Contreras in the heart of the order, makes it easy to project him as an impact fantasy contributor in the runs scored department. His ability to generate consistent hard contact, as evidenced by a 94.5 mph average exit velocity — the highest single-season mark by a hitter under the age of 22 in the Statcast era — portend immediate success at the highest level as a power-hitting table-setter. He’ll be an early-round pick in all fantasy drafts this spring. Here’s the full lineup: Anthony (RF), Ceddanne Rafaela (CF), Wilyer Abreu (DH), Contreras (1B), Masataka Yoshida (LF), Connor Wong (C), Andruw Monasterio (3B), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (SS) and Brendan Rodgers (2B).

The deal, which was agreed upon last week, is now official. The versatile 30-year-old infielder is likely to see most of his action with the Red Sox as a pinch runner or defensive replacement, due to his overall limitations offensively. He can continue to be ignored for fantasy purposes.

MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo says it’s worth $6 million. Kiner-Falefa still plays passable defense at short and has a plus glove at second or third, but he offers nothing but the occasional single with the bat. He’s even stopped walking the last two years, and his OBP was down to .297 last season. He ought to be a true backup in Boston, even if the team fails to make further upgrades on offense.

Springer was able to run in the outfield and hit off a velocity machine, and Blue Jays manager John Schneider has insinuated that Springer will be available off the bench. The 36-year-old will sit with Bo Bichette the designated hitter, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa at second base. Nathan Lukes will also sit against southpaw Blake Snell with Davis Schneider leading off in left field. The full lineup for Toronto: Davis Schneider LF, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B, Bo Bichette DH, Alejandro Kirk C, Daulton Varsho CF, Ernie Clement 3B, Addison Barger RF Kiner-Falefa 2B, and Andrés Giménez at SS.

Springer wasn’t able to swing well enough before the game to return to the lineup after leaving Game 3 with right side discomfort. The 36-year-old veteran could be available off the bench to pinch-hit in a key spot, based on the tone of Blue Jays manager John Schneider’s pregame comments, though that’s far from a certainty. Nathan Lukes has been moved up to the leadoff spot in his absence with Bo Bichette taking over at DH and Isiah Kiner-Falefa at second base as Toronto faces Dodger superstar Shohei Ohtani on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Here’s the full lineup: Lukes (LF), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Bichette (DH), Addison Barger (RF), Alejandro Kirk (C), Daulton Varsho (CF), Ernie Clement (3B), Andrés Giménez (SS) and Kiner-Falefa (2B).

Isiah Kiner-Falefa is at second base with Bichette on the bench to open Saturday’s showdown at the Rogers Centre. The 27-year-old impending free agent made his first-ever appearance at the keystone during the Fall Classic opener and went 1-for-2 with a walk in his first game action since September 6. It doesn’t come as a total surprise that the Blue Jays are going to be extremely cautious with his workload considering the nature of the right knee injury he’s working his way back from. The other notable change for Toronto is Addison Barger entering the lineup after slugging a pinch-hit grand slam during Friday’s series-opening victory. Here’s the full lineup: George Springer (DH), Nathan Lukes (LF), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Alejandro Kirk (C), Daulton Varsho (CF), Ernie Clement (3B), Barger (RF), Kiner-Falefa (2B) and Andrés Giménez (SS).

Springer went 0-for-4 out of the leadoff spot during Sunday’s win-or-go-home Game 6 showdown after making an early exit from Game 5 on Friday night with a knee contusion. Toronto has a chance to punch their ticket to the Fall Classic to face the defending World Series champion Dodgers. Here’s the full lineup: Springer (DH), Nathan Lukes (LF), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Alejandro Kirk (C), Daulton Varsho (CF), Ernie Clement (3B), Addison Barger (RF), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B) and Andrés Giménez (SS).

The Jays will stick with exactly what worked for them in Game 4, running back the same lineup that had tremendous success against the Mariners on Thursday. Once again, here’s the full lineup as the Jays’ will battle against Mariners’ right-hander Bryce Miller on Friday night in Seattle: George Springer (DH), Nathan Lukes (LF), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Alejandro Kirk (C), Daulton Varsho (CF), Ernie Clement (3B), Addison Barger (RF), Kiner-Falefa (2B) and Andrés Giménez (SS).

Santander, who went 0-for-2 with a walk during Wednesday’s Game 3 rout in Seattle, continues to deal with a lingering back issue, according to Blue Jays manager John Schneider. The switch-hitting 30-year-old slugger takes a seat with Addison Barger getting the nod in right field and Isiah Kiner-Falefa drawing into the lineup at second base for the first time in the series. Here’s the full lineup: George Springer (DH), Nathan Lukes (LF), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Alejandro Kirk (C), Daulton Varsho (CF), Ernie Clement (3B), Barger (RF), Kiner-Falefa (2B) and Andrés Giménez (SS).