BALTIMORE -- Veteran second baseman Omar Infante did not start for the fifth straight game on Tuesday, and while Royals manager Ned Yost hasn't officially proclaimed it yet, Infante finds himself a backup to rookie Whit Merrifield.
Infante, 34, hasn't started since making a costly error in the Royals' 5-4 loss last Thursday in Cleveland.
Even Infante appears to see the writing on the wall.
"It's a business," Infante said before Tuesday's game. "Whit is playing good. Cheslor [Cuthbert] is playing good. I'll keep working and wait for my opportunity."
Still, a veteran such as Infante has pride.