Why Is JJ Wetherholt Out of the Cardinals' Lineup Again?
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder JJ Wetherholt is sidelined again with lower-body soreness ahead of a key series against the Cincinnati Reds, missing his second straight game while the team evaluates his recovery. The 23-year-old rookie, who has revitalized the Cardinals’ offense and is a favorite for National League Rookie of the Year, was also held out against the Texas Rangers and has struggled with consistency amid the team’s recent slump." "article": "St. Louis Cardinals outfielder JJ Wetherholt is out of the lineup for the second consecutive game due to lower-body soreness, forcing the team to sit its rising star ahead of a critical three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals are taking a cautious approach with Wetherholt, who was also held out during the series finale against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, hoping rest would aid his recovery. Wetherholt, a 23-year-old rookie drafted seventh overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, has been a bright spot for St. Louis this season, posting a .249/.357/.400 slash line with nine home runs and seven stolen bases. His performance has earned him betting favorite status for the National League Rookie of the Year award, but his absence comes at a tough time, as he had been heating up recently, hitting .302 over his last 13 games. The Cardinals activated outfielder Lars Nootbaar to replace Wetherholt, who will now bat leadoff in his place. The team’s offensive struggles have persisted, with St. Louis ranking 10th in the NL in batting average (.240) and 11th in runs scored (257). After a series loss to the Rangers, the Cardinals have gone 5-10 in their last 15 games, raising questions about their playoff push. With the August 3 trade deadline approaching, St. Louis must decide whether to pursue reinforcements or continue building around Wetherholt. The team currently holds a half-game lead in the National League Wild Card race, but inconsistency could force the front office to explore trades before the deadline.
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder JJ Wetherholt is out of the lineup for the second consecutive game due to lower-body soreness, forcing the team to sit its rising star ahead of a critical three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals are taking a cautious approach with Wetherholt, who was also held out during the series finale against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, hoping rest would aid his recovery. Wetherholt, a 23-year-old rookie drafted seventh overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, has been a bright spot for St. Louis this season, posting a .249/.357/.400 slash line with nine home runs and seven stolen bases. His performance has earned him betting favorite status for the National League Rookie of the Year award, but his absence comes at a tough time, as he had been heating up recently, hitting .302 over his last 13 games. The Cardinals activated outfielder Lars Nootbaar to replace Wetherholt, who will now bat leadoff in his place. The team’s offensive struggles have persisted, with St. Louis ranking 10th in the NL in batting average (.240) and 11th in runs scored (257). After a series loss to the Rangers, the Cardinals have gone 5-10 in their last 15 games, raising questions about their playoff push. With the August 3 trade deadline approaching, St. Louis must decide whether to pursue reinforcements or continue building around Wetherholt. The team currently holds a half-game lead in the National League Wild Card race, but inconsistency could force the front office to explore trades before the deadline.
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