Fantasy News

• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Returns to lineup Tuesday

  Rotowire May 28, 2024

  Nootbaar (hamstring) will start in right field and bat second in Tuesday's game in Cincinnati. Nootbaar missed two starts after tweaking his hamstring in Saturday's game against the Cubs, but he worked out prior to Monday's contest and is ready to roll Tuesday. The 26-year-old has a 1.096 OPS with two homers over his last eight games.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Takes part in light running Monday

  Rotowire May 28, 2024

  Nootbaar (hamstring) hit in the batting cage and did some light running prior to Monday's game against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Nootbaar tweaked his hamstring while legging out a triple in Saturday's game against the Cubs and has since sat out the last two games. The outfielder told Denton that he should be ready to return to the lineup whenever the Cardinals give him the green light. The Cardinals are slated to face a left-hander starter Tuesday and have an off day Thursday, factors which could weigh into their decision as to when to reinsert Nootbaar into the lineup.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Remains out Monday

  Rotowire May 27, 2024

  Nootbaar (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game in Cincinnati. Nootbaar was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup due to a hamstring issue. With tough left-hander Nick Lodolo on the mound for the Reds on Monday, it makes sense to hold Nootbaar out again. Cincinnati does another another southpaw scheduled to start Tuesday in Andrew Abbott, so it's possible Nootbaar could remain out until Wednesday. For what it's worth, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday of Nootbaar's injury that "we don't see it lingering," per John Denton of MLB.com. Dylan Carlson will be in right field Monday.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Scratched with hamstring issue

  Rotowire May 26, 2024

  Nootbaar was scratched from Sunday's lineup against the Cubs due to a minor hamstring issue, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Manager Oliver Marmol said Nootbaar could easily play through the hamstring issue, which popped up Saturday, but they will play it safe. Matt Carpenter was added to the lineup at designated hitter, batting fifth.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Racks up three hits Saturday

  Rotowire May 25, 2024

  Nootbaar went 3-for-5 with a triple, one RBI, one stolen base and one run scored in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Cubs. Nootbaar had gone 1-for-8 during the Cardinals' three-game series versus the Orioles earlier in the week. He broke out of the short slump with a strong Saturday that included an RBI triple, which gave St. Louis a big enough lead for the win. The outfielder doesn't offer a ton of speed -- the triple was his first of the year to go with three steals. He's added a .227/.338/.409 slash line with five home runs, 19 RBI and 14 runs scored over 155 plate appearances.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Goes deep in loss

  Rotowire May 20, 2024

  Nootbaar went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 11-3 loss to the Red Sox. Nootbaar is up to five homers on the year, four of which have come in his last 11 games. In that span, he's gone 12-for-39 (.308) with 10 RBI and a 10:8 BB:K. The outfielder had a slow start to the year after missing the first two weeks with broken ribs. Nootbaar is still slashing a middling .218/.331/.403 on the season, but he's trending in the right direction. He's added 17 RBI, 13 runs scored, two stolen bases and seven doubles over 33 contests while filling a near-everyday role in the Cardinals' outfield.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Homers, scores three runs

  Rotowire May 17, 2024

  Nootbaar went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, two walks and three runs scored in Friday's win over Boston. Nootbaar opened the scoring by taking Brayan Bello deep in the first inning. He later drew a pair of walks and scored each time. After a 21-game homerless drought, he's gone deep three times in his last nine games. He's up to four home runs with 12 runs scored and 14 RBI through 131 plate appearances.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Absent from lineup

  Rotowire May 14, 2024

  Nootbaar is not in Tuesday's lineup versus the Angels. Tuesday will mark Nootbaar's first day off since making a delayed season debut April 12 after a stint on the injured list due to fractured ribs. Brendan Donovan, Mike Siani and Dylan Carlson make up the starting outfield for the Cardinals on Tuesday.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Racks up three hits

  Rotowire May 11, 2024

  Nootbaar went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Brewers. Nootbaar was one of five Cardinals with multiple hits in the contest, but it still wasn't enough to break the team out of its skid. The outfielder has gone 8-for-35 (.229) in May, adding four RBI and three extra-base hits in that span. He's still struggling overall with a .198/.294/.354 slash line through 110 plate appearances. Nootbaar has added three home runs, two stolen bases, 11 RBI and eight runs scored, and he appears to have a near-everyday role in the outfield since most of the rest of the Cardinals aren't hitting much better than he is.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Provides lone run in loss

  Rotowire May 10, 2024

  Nootbaar went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Thursday's 7-1 loss to the Brewers. Nootbaar has homered in each of the last two games, but he's batting just .184 (7-for-38) with five extra-base hits over his last 10 contests. The outfielder is up to three homers through 24 contests on the year, with the recent increase in power helping to make up for an overall lack of success at the plate. He's slashing .184/.290/.356 with nine RBI, eight runs scored, six doubles and two stolen bases through 101 plate appearances. Nootbaar continues to split time between left field and right field depending on where Brendan Donovan plays.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Two-run double in win

  Rotowire Apr 24, 2024

  Nootbaar went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Wednesday's win over the Diamondbacks. Nootbaar doubled in his final at-bat of the contest to send home Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, giving the Cardinals a 4-1 lead. It was the left fielder's fourth extra-base. of the season, and he's now driven in two runs in two of his last three games. Nootbaar has also hit safely in six of his last seven contests.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Swipes first bag

  Rotowire Apr 18, 2024

  Nootbaar went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Athletics while also drawing a walk. Nootbaar actually spoiled what could have been a productive start for the Cardinals' offense in the first inning when he grounded into a double play after the first two batters reached base to open the frame. He did, however, do his best to make up for it in his next at-bat, opening the fourth inning with a single before coming around to score St. Louis' first run on a Willson Contreras double. The left fielder has now hit safely in four of his first six games to open the season and even swiped his first bag in Wednesday's loss. He'll look to record his first multi-hit game of the campaign this weekend when the Cardinals host the Brewers.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Making season debut Friday

  Rotowire Apr 12, 2024

  Nootbaar is starting in left field and batting sixth in Friday's game against the Diamondbacks. After starting the season on the 10-day injured list with two fractured left ribs, Nootbaar has progressed well enough in his rehab to make his season debut Friday. Last season for the Cardinals, Nootbaar slashed .261/.367/.418 with 14 home runs and 11 steals over 503 plate appearances.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Cleared to return Friday

  Rotowire Apr 11, 2024

  Nootbaar (ribs) will be activated from the 10-day injured list to make his season debut Friday in Arizona, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Nootbaar had what was going to be his final rehab game with Double-A Springfield rained out Wednesday, but it won't change the plans to activate the outfielder this weekend. The 26-year-old got a late start to the season after suffering two fractured ribs during a spring training game. Nootbaar is poised to take over in left field for the Cardinals, which will result in Brendan Donovan being used more at second base and/or designated hitter. Alec Burleson's playing time will likely be the most negatively affected upon Nootbaar's return.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Could be activated Friday

  Rotowire Apr 10, 2024

  Nootbaar (ribs) could be activated from the injured list Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. Nootbaar will play in what might be his final rehab game with Double-A Springfield on Wednesday. The Cardinals have an off day Thursday and Nootbaar could join them for the beginning of their road trip this weekend in Arizona. Nootbaar has been out all season with two non-displaced fractures in his left ribcage. He had been slated for everyday duties in left field before getting hurt, but it's possible the Cards will consider using him in center field if they opt to send Victor Scott down.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Not ready to return yet

  Rotowire Apr 8, 2024

  Nootbaar (ribs) will not be activated from the injured list Monday and will instead resume a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Nootbaar was back in St. Louis Monday to be evaluated and the Cardinals had left open the possibility that he could be activated. However, Nootbaar is just 3-for-17 so far in five games and the decision was made for him to sharpen his timing before returning. It seems likely that he'll be back this weekend in Arizona if all goes well, although that hasn't been confirmed. Nootbaar is coming back from two non-displaced fractures in his left ribcage.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: May return Monday

  Rotowire Apr 6, 2024

  Nootbaar (ribs) will play two more rehab games at Triple-A Memphis before being re-evaluated Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Nootbaar has gone 1-for-11 with an RBI and a run scored through his first three rehab games and is now set for at least two more games. Manager Oliver Marmol said the 26-year-old outfielder's return to St. Louis is more dependent on him getting enough reps at Triple-A than it is the rib injury he suffered during spring training, so there's a chance the Cardinals activate Nootbaar from the IL to make his regular-season debut as soon as Monday against Philadelphia.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Officially placed on IL

  Rotowire Mar 26, 2024

  The Cardinals placed Nootbaar on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with two fractured left ribs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. Nootbaar has been held out since early March due to the injury. He resumed taking swings against soft-toss pitching Monday, and the Cardinals are optimistic that the 26-year-old won't need to spend much longer than the 10-day minimum on the IL.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Undergoes CT scan on torso

  Rotowire Mar 7, 2024

  Nootbaar underwent a CT scan on his torso Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Nootbaar is dealing with lingering soreness after jamming his elbow into in his left side and ribs while trying to brace his fall along the side outfield wall during Saturday's game versus the Astros. The Cardinals medical staff reviewed the imaging Thursday, and the club is expected to have a better idea as to the severity and a timetable for Nootbaar by Friday afternoon. Nootbaar did say Thursday that he's "feeling better and better every day," so hopefully it's more of a day-to-day situation.

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• Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Looking for pulled flyballs

  Rotowire Mar 1, 2024

  Nootbaar changed his swing over the offseason in hopes of hitting more pulled flyballs, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Nootbaar worked with Nolan Arenado and Arenado's brother, former minor-leaguer Jonah, extensively over the winter. He's holding his hands lower, allowing for a more vertical swing path and more freedom to stay within the ball. Woo writes that Nootbaar's biggest priority is backspin, along with higher exit velocities and barrel rates as well as lower groundball rates. While Nootbaar's plate discipline remained excellent in 2023, his quality of contact, flyball rate and pull rate all regressed. The goal is to maintain the former while improving all of the latter aspects.

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