Keep track of the Cardinals’ recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season.
Brendan Donovan, who made his MLB debut on Monday and picked up the first hit of his career on Thursday, started at third in place of Arenado.
In the contentious three-game series between two of the top teams in the National League, six Mets were hit by pitches, while four Cardinals were plunked. On Tuesday, Mets slugger Pete Alonso was hit in the side of the helmet by a 2-2 changeup from Kodi Whitley, and Starling Marte was clipped in the elbow by an Aaron Brooks fastball with the bases loaded. On Wednesday, after J.D. Davis was hit in the ankle in the top of the eighth, Arenado became irate when Yoan López sent the first pitch of the bottom of the frame high and inside. After screaming and motioning toward López, Arenado shoved catcher Tomás Nido, and both benches and bullpens emptied.
Cardinals reliever Génesis Cabrera was suspended one game for his role in pulling Alonso to the ground; he served that suspension on Thursday. López and two players on the injured list (New York’s Taijuan Walker and St. Louis’ Jack Flaherty) were fined for their roles in the incident. — John Denton
RHP Jack Flaherty (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Flaherty, the 2019 and ’20 Opening Day starter who has yet to pitch this season, continues to make steady progress in his rehabilitation process from right shoulder inflammation. Flaherty received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his shoulder in mid-March and recently started throwing on a regular basis. He spent several days throwing at approximately 120 feet during the team’s recent road trip.
“I don’t think he’s to the point where we’re talking about an actual rehab assignment yet, but with everything I’m hearing internally, we’re encouraged with the steps he’s taken,” Cardinals team president John Mozeliak said. “As I told [the media] a month ago, it’s just something we’re going to have to be patient with, and fingers crossed that he’s going to be a key contributor to this rotation.” — John Denton (Last updated: April 25)
RHP Drew VerHagen (right hip impingement)
VerHagen received some good news when he got an injection in his right hip and was told that he could start working his way back to the mound next week. VerHagen’s relief outing against the Marlins on April 21 was cut short after one inning, and he was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day.
“He got his injection, and it’ll be fairly minimal time away,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said before the April 23 game in Cincinnati. “[He’ll] recover over the weekend, play catch on Monday [and have] a possible bullpen on Wednesday, and [we’ll] see how we go from there.”
Marmol said there was no need for an MRI on VerHagen, as the team had a good feel for the extent of the injury from previous experience. “He got checked out from the doctors,” Marmol said. “It’s something he’s had in the past, so we have a pretty good idea of what’s helped in the past and what hasn’t.” — Mike Petraglia (Last updated: April 23)
RHP Alex Reyes (right shoulder soreness)
Expected return: TBD
Reyes, an All-Star last season, left Spring Training on March 16 and headed to Pensacola, Fla., to meet with famed orthopedic surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, about the lingering pain in his throwing shoulder. Reyes was scheduled to have what manager Oliver Marmol called “a therapeutic injection” in the shoulder. Reyes, who was 10-8 with 29 saves last season, is scheduled to report back to Spring Training by March 18, when a course of action will be determined. Marmol said he is almost certain that Reyes — who hasn’t thrown off a mound since late last season — won’t be ready for Opening Day. — John Denton (Last updated: March 16)
RHP Ljay Newsome (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2022
Newsome, who was claimed by the Cardinals at the end of October, underwent Tommy John surgery during the 2021 season and should be ready later in the 2022 season. Newsome was one of the 153 players invited to the Cardinals’ Minor League Spring Training camp. Newsome continues to work his way back after last appearing in seven games in the 2021 season with the Mariners. — John Denton (Last updated: March 16)