Kendrys is practicing at, uh, third base

The Blue Jays will open their three-game series against Texas tonight with lefty Matt Moore taking the ball for the Rangers. In all three games, Texas will trot out a left-handed starter, as Mike Minor and Cole Hamels will pitch on Saturday and Sunday. John Gibbons wants to get Kendrys Morales, who hits lefties well, into the lineup, so we might see him get some action at third base. Uhhhhhh….

That’s certainly something. With Josh Donaldson navigating his dead arm situation and the Jays wanting to ensure he can take some nights off in the DH slot, Morales might actually take the field. We saw him play a little first base last season, but Morales hasn’t played anywhere other than first and DH since 2016 when he played 36 innings in right field for the Royals.

During his Major League career, Morales has never played third base. But how hard could it be? *extremely Ron Washington in Moneyball voice* “It’s incredibly hard.”

Kendrys sports a .286/.334/.454 slash line over his career against lefties. Last season, his splits were much more dramatic, as righties held him to a .680 OPS and he produced a 1.000 OPS against lefties. I can empathize with wanting to get him into the lineup, but is his bat against lefties that much of an upgrade over Yangervis Solarte that you’re willing to stick him at third?