Cardinals Backfields Battle Will Have Major Implications On St. Louis' Early Goings

St. Louis could use some reinforcements

Scott Neville | Mar 29, 2024

Feb 15, 2024; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) during / Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

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St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals did not kickoff their season the way they had hoped, succumbing to the super team Los Angeles Dodgers, largely due to the performances of LA's three MVP candidates who hit back-to-back-to-back in the lineup.

The man originally tasked with stifling the Dodgers' boisterous lineup was not in Los Angeles. Instead, star newcomer Sonny Gray was in Florida rehabbing a hamstring injury.

As it turns out, he'll be facing off against another key Cardinals player, in a matchup that will have notable implications on St. Louis' first-half performance.

"The next step toward (returning to game action) comes Friday in Gray’s recovery from the hamstring strain that interrupted his spring training and delayed his Cardinals debut," St. Louis Dispatch's Derrick Goold wrote. "Gray will throw live batting practice at the team’s complex in Jupiter, Florida. Among the hitters he’s expected to face in the simulated game is teammate Lars Nootbaar. A Cardinals official said that is 'probable.'

"Nootbaar, who fractured his ribs earlier this month, has advanced to facing game-speed pitching, and it will be Gray who delivers it," Goold continued.

The actual results of the matchup is far from important. What matters is how they feel during and after. If both Gray and Nootbar can escape live batting practice without setbacks, St. Louis could be in line for some reinforcements in short order.

"Nootbaar is the closest to a return, though the club is hopeful both he and Gray could join the team early in the homestand that begins next Thursday," Goold wrote.

Cardinals fans have been anxiously awaiting Gray's debut since the reigning American League Cy Young runner-up inked a three-year, $75 million deal with St. Louis in November. After a brutal performance by Miles Mikolas, Gray's return carries a little extra weight. The rotation was light as it was and losing an ace has not aided matters.

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Published Mar 29, 2024

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the St. Louis Cardinals for FanNation's "Inside The Cardinals" on Sports Illustrated. Before starting "Inside The Cardinals", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join FanNation and the Sports Illustrated Media Group as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." After a few months as the top Major League Baseball site in the program, Neville sought expansion and pitched "Inside The Cardinals," one of the newest additions to FanNation and the Sports Illustrated Media Group. The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Cardinals" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu