ANAHEIM, Calif. — With an MLB resume that includes more than 1,400 games played, three All-Star appearances and MVP votes in three seasons, Cardinals veteran Matt Carpenter understands the role a leadoff hitter can play for the rest of the lineup.
“He’s trying to set the tone for the game,†Carpenter said on Monday. “Have a competitive at-bat up there at the top and just relay what you’re seeing to the rest of the lineup and just trying to do your best to have good at-bats and find a way on and let the guys behind you drive you in.â€
And the role a leadoff hitter can play for an offense that’s been struggling.
“We’re trying to jump-start it somehow,†Carpenter said. “Changing it up. Obviously, we’ve struggled as a group, but we’re trying any way we can to get out of it. Hopefully, yesterday was a great opportunity for us to kind of get rolling.â€
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Carpenter batted atop manager Oliver Marmol’s lineup in Monday’s road series opener against the Angels. He also did so Sunday in Milwaukee.
“He just changes it up. He’s done a nice job of just getting on base. He feels good about his swing. He controls the strike zone well. So throwing him back out there again,†Marmol said of Carpenter.
Entering Monday’s game in Anaheim, California, the Cardinals were ranked 28th across the majors in team average (.220), 27th in on-base percentage (.298) and 29th in slugging percentage (.341). They were tied for last in homers with the Chicago White Sox and were 29th in runs scored (136).
Cardinals leadoff hitters had a .205 batting average and a .280 on-base percentage — both ranking in the bottom five across Major League Baseball.
Carpenter, who lined out to shortstop in his first at-bat on Monday, went 1 for 4 with a walk from the leadoff spot in a 4-3 win Sunday. Following his activation from the injured list on Saturday, the 38-year-old collected three hits in his first four at-bats after he was out for more than a month because of a right oblique injury.
His recent placement atop their order, a spot he’s started a game from 764 times in his career including in each of the Cardinals’ visits to Angel Stadium, brings an experienced approach for an offense that’s seeking to get off the ground.
“Sometimes you study it with a presence that’s steady and sometimes you try to spark something and put (Lars) Nootbaar second and (say), ‘Hey, be you and do what you do and have confidence in what you’re doing. I trust you. Go do it,’†Marmol said. “There’s different reasons you put guys in different situations and hope to get some reactions out of them and collectively out of everybody. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.â€
Walker in Memphis
A 2-for-4 performance on Sunday that included a pair of singles and two RBIs with Memphis extended Jordan Walker’s hit streak while in Class AAA to eight consecutive games. The two-hit game boosted Walker’s average to .326 and on-base percentage to .388 in 11 minor league games since he was optioned on April 24. The Redbirds were off Monday.
The 21-year-old has doubled twice while striking out five times and walking five times since he returned to the minors. He is 12 for 30 (.400) with a .924 on-base plus slugging percentage during his eight-game hit streak.
“He’s definitely putting in the work, the right type of work,†Marmol said. “You’re looking for him to do a couple of things like pitch recognition as we talked before he went as he went down but also his ability to cover the outer half of the plate with authority. Continuing to keep your eye out for his progress in those areas.â€
Walker has yet to hit a home run with Memphis after not homering in 20 big league games to open the season.
Injury updates
Left-hander Packy Naughton (left forearm) has continued his throwing progression while at the Cardinals complex in Jupiter, Florida. Naughton’s recent work included throwing live batting practice to hitters including Dylan Carlson, who took right-handed at-bats against Naughton while Carlson rehabbed a shoulder injury before returning from the IL on May 5.
There is no date for Naughton to begin a rehab assignment, but the left-hander is “definitely closer†to one. Naughton last pitched in a live game on April 7, 2023. He missed most of the season after undergoing season-ending surgery.
- Center fielder Tommy Edman took soft toss on Monday as he continues his hitting progression after offseason surgery on his right wrist delayed his start to the season.
- Left-hander Steven Matz received an injection on Monday for a lower back strain that landed him on the 15-day injured list. Matz will not throw for the next seven days.
- Keynan Middleton is set to begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Double-A Springfield (Missouri). The righty has been sidelined since March because of a forearm flexor strain.
- Right-hander Riley O’Brien (forearm flexor strain) continued to play long toss as part of his throwing progression. He has been on the IL since late March after pitching on opening day.