Cardinals Receive Extremely Positive Injury Update; Could Big Stretch Be Coming?
The St. Louis Cardinals may have not gotten off to the start they had hoped for, but there is good news coming.
St. Louis has been struck by the injury bug already this season but it sounds like the club may be getting healthier. One major player who may be back on the field sooner rather than later is young outfielder Lars Nootbaar, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold.
"If Lars Nootbaar (thumb) completes a workout today — swings against pitching machine — and recovers well, he could join Class AA Springfield as soon as tomorrow night to begin a rehab assignment," Goold said Wednesday afternoon.
St. Louis has been without the services of Nootbaar since he jammed his thumb sliding into a base on Opening Day. Nootbaar took a massive step forward for the club last year and earned a spot in the club's starting lineup after beginning the season as the team's fourth outfielder. The 25-year-old slashed .228/.340/.448 to go along with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs in 108 games in his first full professional season.
The Cardinals have struggled so far this season and are 4-7 through 11 games. Nootbaar's return to the lineup could only help. St. Louis should also get healthier in the pitching department soon enough with Adam Wainwright working his way back from an injury he suffered during the World Baseball Classic.
Once the Cardinals have Nootbaar and eventually Wainwright back, they should be in good shape. The club's offense hasn't been the issue so far this season but instead the pitching. Wainwright's eventual return should help in that area and Nootbaar's return should help the Cardinals' offense take another step.
After finishing with 93 wins in 2022, the Cardinals have high expectations this season and should be in contention for a World Series title. They have started off slowly, but are due to improve. The Cardinals' 4-7 record is surprising, but once they get healthier they are due for win streak. St. Louis earned an impressive comeback victory Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies and maybe it will help steer them back in the right direction. Nootbaar should help the Cardinals start racking up some wins in the very near future.
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