The cardinals could activate the outfielder Lars Nootbar according to a statement already removed from the injured list tomorrow MLB.com’s John Denton. Nootbaar, who has been playing in the IL since earlier this month with a lower back bruise, has cut .266/.380/.390 in 184 appearances for St. Louis this season, which translates to a WRC+ of 118.
As St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold has discussed, Nootbaar’s return will pose some conundrum for Cardinals manager Oli Marmol, who has made the switch Tommy Edman In recent weeks, he’s transitioned from shortstop to outfield, a change the switch-hitter has embraced well. Goold suggests that the return of Nootbaar, who can play good defense in all three outfield spots, would give Marmol the opportunity to move Edman back into infield, with Nootbaar taking over the centre Nolan Gorman spend most days at DH. Otherwise, Marmol could keep Edman in the center and take advantage of Nootbaar Dylan Carlson in the corners while it is allowed Jordan Walkerwho was struggling to adjust to outfield work after spending most of his minor league career in the infield dirt, to DH.
Whatever defensive lineup the Cardinals end up with, Nootbaar’s return numbers are helping to boost the club as it struggles to remain relevant in the NL Central. Despite a miserable 29-43 record that puts them 8.5 games behind in the NL Central, St. Louis still has a 12.1% chance of making the playoffs thanks to weak competition in the division, according to Fangraphs to reach.
More from the central divisions…
- royals left handed Ryan Yarbrough will begin rehab in the Arizona Complex League tomorrow, according to a club announcement. This is fantastic news, not just for Kansas City fans, but for the entire baseball community given the circumstances surrounding Yarbrough’s injury. The left-hander was listed on the injured list in early May with multiple head fractures after being hit in the face by a line drive from the Oakland racquet Ryan Noda. Before his injury, Yarbrough struggled in ten appearances with the Royals, posting a 6.15 ERA and 5.17 FIP in 26 1/3 innings.
- After today’s news that the pirates are ready to promote the first overall victory in 2021 Henry Davis to the majors tomorrow, manager Derek Shelton told reporters Justice delos Santos from MLB.comthat the club’s current catching tandem Austin Hedges And Jason delay would remain in the squad. With Pittsburgh planning to use three catchers while Davis breaks into the majors, it’s worth asking how the club intends to use Davis. While drafted and used primarily as a catcher, the youngster has also started 15 games in right field over the past two seasons while co-starting at DH. Of course, the DH slot in Pittsburgh is mostly full Andrew McCutchenRight field is Davis’ most likely home on days when hedges or delay start behind the plate. Connor Joe And Josh Palacios are currently working in a timeshare for the pirates.