Nolan Gorman, Lars Nootbaar Out Against Lefty
Nolan Gorman and outfielder Lars Nootbaar are both out of Friday's lineup against left-hander Justin Steele and the division-rival Chicago Cubs. Jose Fermin will get the start at second base and bat in the nine-hole, while Andrew Knizner gets the start behind the plate and bats eighth. Willson Contreras will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup. Dylan Carlson is starting in center field and batting leadoff. Gorman is hitting a decent .257 (9-for-35) against lefties in 2023, but he has only two of his 19 homers against them. Meanwhile, Nootbaar is hitting only .214 (12-for-56) against southpaws with no home runs and six RBI. Carlson will be a sneaky DFS play on Friday out of the leadoff spot. He's gone 17-for-58 (.293) against lefties this year.
Source: MLB.com
St. Louis Cardinals infielder Source: MLB.com
Nolan Gorman Activated Off Injured List
Nolan Gorman (hamstring) has been activated off the 10-day injured list. In a corresponding move, the Cardinals placed shortstop Masyn Winn (back) on the 10-day injured list. Gorman has been sidelined since early April with this injury. Through his first five games of the campaign, the second baseman tallied four hits with one double and a home run. He held a 1:1 BB:K. Gorman is not in Saturday's starting lineup as the Cardinals are facing a southpaw in Cristopher Sanchez. However, fantasy managers should expect Gorman to see playing against right-handed pitching. Last summer, the 24-year-old struggled as he held a .203/.271/.400 slash line. He is worth a look as a power target in deeper 15+ team formats.
Source: Katie Woo
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Source: Katie Woo
Nolan Gorman Placed On 10-Day Injured List With Hamstring Strain
Nolan Gorman (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 2) with a right-hamstring strain. Infield prospect Thomas Saggese has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. Although Gorman was hitting .500 (4-for-8) in the early going with a home run, the 24-year-old had started just two of the team's first five games of the year at second base before injuring his hamstring this week. It's unclear if Gorman's injury will keep him out beyond 10 days, but he'll be eligible to return to the Cardinals next Saturday, April 12. In the meantime, expect Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson to split time at the keystone in St. Louis. Saggese, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will most likely serve as a backup infielder off the bench while Gorman recovers. UPDATE: Gorman said his hamstring injury is "super mild." He will stay with the club on their road trip to work on strengthening/rehabbing his right leg and doesn't expect to need a minor-league rehab assignment before coming off the IL.
Source: St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Friday that they placed infielder Source: St. Louis Cardinals
Nolan Gorman Out Sick On Friday
Nolan Gorman (illness) is out of the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Friday due to an illness, according to manager Oliver Marmol. Hopefully, Gorman will be feeling good enough in a day or two to get his final spring at-bats in before starting the regular season next Thursday. Heading into Friday's games, the 24-year-old infielder is hitting just .196 (9-for-46) with a homer, three doubles, two RBI, and 12 strikeouts in 16 Grapefruit League contests. Still, Gorman is fully expected to be the Cardinals' primary second baseman in 2025, at least on the strong side of a platoon against right-handed pitching. It was a rough 2024 campaign for Gorman, as he hit just .203/.271/.400 with 19 home runs, 50 RBI, six stolen bases and a 37.6% strikeout rate in 107 games. He was optioned to the minors in August and never returned to the big leagues. He still has power, but he's merely a middle-infield option in deep-mixed fantasy leagues.
Source: MLB.com - John Denton
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Source: MLB.com - John Denton
Nolan Gorman To Be An Everyday Player In 2025
Nolan Gorman is one such young player set to play regularly in 2025, and the Cardinals would like to see him get close to 600 at-bats next year, according to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. In addition to Gorman, outfielder Jordan Walker should have a bigger role without the threat of being sent back to the minors. Other young players that should have key roles include Lars Nootbaar, Alec Burleson, Pedro Pages and Ivan Herrera. Gorman, the 19th overall pick in 2018, regressed in 2024, hitting .203/.271/.400 with a career-low .671 OPS, 19 home runs, 50 RBI and six steals in 107 games. The 24-year-old spent the final five weeks in the minors but should have an everyday role, either at second or third, in 2025.
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
As the St. Louis Cardinals transition this offseason, they are focused on letting most of their youngers players play regularly in order to evaluate their roster for the coming seasons. Infielder Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
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