WASHINGTON — Any questions he faced about his durability or just plain old bad luck that could explain the ongoing spate of unrelated injuries and his on-again, off-again injury list stints, Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar wanted answered, too.
So he asked.
Before going on a rehab assignment, Nootbaar, on his own, sought a bone-density exam, or DEXA scan. The injuries had been mounting — nondisplaced fractured ribs he suffered in the spring, an oblique strain that occurred in May, a sore back that developed last year, a damaged thumb. He wanted to explore with a specialist any possible underlying or linking reason, or just get prescribed some peace of mind.
“Just be OK, like, are my bones made of bone? What’s the deal here?” Nootbaar said Monday at Nationals Park. “Everything came back (normal), which was good. I was happy about that. They said my bones are very strong. It’s just when you’re running into things and doing stuff — it’s part of life. … I was just curious. I just want to know if there’s anything I need to change or whatever it is. If I’m eating something or doing something that isn’t right, maybe I can deter that.”
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Limited to 39 games previously this season because of separate injuries, Nootbaar returned from the injured list Monday and started in right field. He went 1 for 4 with a single in the Cardinals’ 6-0 victory against Washington.
Although officials played coy with the decision Sunday morning, the Cardinals already had opted to have him meet them in Washington rather than take two days off after his final minor-league game and start Tuesday at the beginning of a home stand. (“He’s ready; we’re ready,” manager Oliver Marmol said Monday.) Nootbaar rejoined a team that changed during his absence — notably at the top of the lineup, where he often hits and in the outfield where he always plays.
Masyn Winn has moved to the leadoff spot and Alec Burleson, maximizing his chance at everyday playing time, has subleased the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Since Nootbaar strained his oblique muscle, Burleson leads the team in homers (9), RBIs (27), and slugging percentage (.504). He’s tied with Winn for the team-lead in runs, at 22.
A wave in the ripple effect of Nootbaar’s return will move Burleson from Nootbaar’s right field position into more starts at designated hitter. That also could mean fewer starts at DH for catcher Willson Contreras that had been clearing innings for backup Pedro Pages.
Marmol said he’ll use the DH slot to spell his corner infielders, and Burleson could see starts then at first base. What is certain to happen is the Cardinals often utilizing what they feel is their best blend of defense and offense in the outfield — Brendan Donovan in left, Michael Siani in center, Nootbaar in right — and continuing to start Burleson, daily.
“Oh, gosh yeah,” Marmol said.
After missing a month to rest and heal the oblique strain, Nootbaar appeared in seven games for Class AA Springfield on his rehab assignment. He homered in his penultimate game with the S-Cards, bought the clubhouse the customary dinner for a visiting big-leaguer, and then walked thrice in his final game, last Saturday. A wrinkle in the schedule gave Springfield consecutive off days Sunday and Monday, prompting the Cardinals to bring back Nootbaar so he didn’t idle so soon after playing regularly to regain his timing.
The Cardinals see Nootbaar’s on-base knack and hard-hit profile as a way to lengthen the lineup — station one of the top walk rates in the game right behind the middle of the order to prolong or reignite rallies. Finding a place in the lineup for Nootbaar, who had a .337 on-base percentage and .742 OPS when he was injured taking a swing, has not been an issue for the Cardinals.
Keeping him in the lineup has been the concern.
Nootbaar has been on and off the injured list five times in the past 1½ seasons, and the injuries have ranged from a thumb hurt sliding into third to ribs fractured suffered in a catch at the wall to a groin injury that occurred when he fouled off a pitch and it just missed hitting his belt.
“I think there’ve been some freak incidents,” Marmol said. “Unfortunately, they’ve been bunched together in a short period of time. But I don’t look at it as something (related). I don’t link it to anything.”
Nootbaar said during his rehab assignment he had a lengthy talk with a former player about the recurring stints on the IL and time away from the team.
“I was honest with them and told them it’s frustrating,” he said. “You have to take it in stride. I wasn’t my best self on the field or off the field, so I feel like it’s the opportunity for me to get better and evaluate myself as a person and a player and use that opportunity to better myself. Take some chances on the field. Do some things I probably wouldn’t do here. It’s not easy. But you try to take advantage of it.”
And he tried to find answers for it.
So he underwent the bone scan to just be certain, just to explore if there was something that needed to change that he’d make that change. He received something more than an answer. He got reassurance.
“I never want to go out there playing scared. That’s never been my thing,” Nootbaar said. “It’s part of the game. Unfortunately, I’ve been bitten a little bit with those unlucky breaks. I don’t think I’m going to stop playing as hard as I can.”
Edman starts rehab, etc.
Gold Glove Award-winner Tommy Edman is set to start his rehab assignment Tuesday with Class AA Springfield, Marmol said. Edman’s schedule for his first week of games since offseason wrist surgery will include starts at designated hitter and center field, though as his schedule continues the utility fielder will see innings at several infield positions, too.
- Right-hander Riley O’Brien’s initial reaction following a live batting practice session over the weekend was encouraging, though the Cardinals have declined to offer details on the next step of the injured reliever’s recovery. If O’Brien (flexor tendon) does not encounter a setback in the coming days he could repeat the live BP or appear in a minor-league game and begin a rehab assignment.
- Donovan’s single in the sixth inning Monday extended his streak of reaching base safely to 21 games. That matches the longest active streak in the majors: Bryce Harper’s 21.
- The Cardinals’ victory Monday made them 13-1 in their past 14 series finales after starting the season 2-13 in the final game of series.