Fantasy News

• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Activated Saturday

  Rotowire May 11, 2024

  Carpenter (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Saturday's game against the Brewers. Jose Fermin had been leading off against lefties, but with the Cardinals set to face three right-handed starters in a row, Fermin was sent to Triple-A and the lefty-hitting Carpenter was added to the active roster. The 38-year-old designated hitter went 3-for-10 with a run scored in three games before getting injured April 1.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Expected back Saturday

  Rotowire May 10, 2024

  Carpenter (oblique) is on track to rejoin the Cardinals on Saturday in Milwaukee, Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com reports. Carpenter will play in one more rehab game with Triple-A Memphis on Friday before a likely return to the big club. Out since early April with a right oblique strain, Carpenter has gone 4-for-17 with two homers in his first five rehab contests. Upon his activation, Carpenter could see some starts at designated hitter versus righties for an offense that's desperately looking for a spark.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Could remain out until next week

  Rotowire May 7, 2024

  Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Tuesday that Carpenter's (oblique) rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis could be extended through the weekend, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Carpenter had a couple potential rehab games with Double-A Springfield rained out, so the team would like to see him make up for that lost time. Barring a setback, Carpenter could be activated from the 10-day injured list early next week, when the Cardinals are on the road playing the Angels.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Moves rehab to Memphis

  Rotowire May 6, 2024

  Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Carpenter (oblique) will shift his rehab assignment to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Carpenter kicked off his minor-league assignment with Double-A Springfield on Friday and appeared in two games over the weekend, going 1-for-6 with a walk, two runs and an RBI. The 38-year-old has been on the injured list since April 2 with a right oblique strain, but once he's activated, he could push Alec Burleson for the Cardinals' primary designated-hitter gig.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Begins rehab assignment

  Rotowire May 3, 2024

  Carpenter (oblique) has been sent to Double-A Springfield to begin a rehab assignment. What would have been Carpenter's first rehab game was rained out Thursday, but he's been cleared for game action after missing the last month with a right oblique strain. It's not clear how many rehab at-bats the 38-year-old will need before being activated. Once he does return, he'll give the Cardinals another option at designated hitter.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Nearing rehab assignment

  Rotowire Apr 29, 2024

  Carpenter (oblique) could begin a rehab assignment as soon as Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Carpenter has progressed well since being given an injection for his right oblique strain a week ago, having taken a couple rounds of batting practice without issue. It sounds like he might be ready for activation within the next week or so.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Resumes swinging

  Rotowire Apr 26, 2024

  Carpenter (oblique) took swings on the field before Friday's game against the Mets, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Carpenter had been shut down after receiving a PRP injection in his right oblique Monday. He will swing again before Saturday's game, at which point the Cardinals will decide whether or not to send the 38-year-old veteran out on a rehab assignment.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Gets injection for oblique

  Rotowire Apr 23, 2024

  Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Carpenter received a platelet-rich plasma injection for his strained right oblique, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The Cardinals will have Carpenter rest for the next three days to allow the injection to take effect. If all goes well, Carpenter will resume hitting on the field later this week, and then face a high-velocity pitching machine before he starts getting at-bats in a game setting. Heading into the season, Carpenter didn't look as though he would be in store for much of a role before being placed on the 10-day injured list April 4, but he could have an opportunity to see reps at designated hitter if Nolan Gorman (.610 OPS, 38.1 percent strikeout rate in 84 plate appearances) and Alec Burleson (.549 OPS in 52 plate appearances) fail to show improvement in the weeks to come.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Rehab assignment not imminent

  Rotowire Apr 21, 2024

  Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Sunday that Carpenter (oblique) is still at least a few days away from starting his rehab assignment, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. Carpenter took swings during batting practice both Friday and Saturday. Marmol noted that those sessions went well for Carpenter, but the veteran first baseman could need upwards of a week before beginning his rehab assignment. Carpenter has been on the Cardinals' 10-day IL since April 2 after straining his right oblique.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Traveling, taking infield practice

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Carpenter (oblique) is currently traveling with the Cardinals and took infield practice in Arizona over the weekend, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Sidelined since early April with a right oblique strain, Carpenter seems to be making progress in his recovery, though it's unclear where he stands in his hitting progression. With that, a return timetable is still up in the air for the 14-year veteran. Carpenter appeared in three games -- including a couple starts at DH -- for the Cardinals early on this season, going 3-for-10 with three singles and a run scored.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Placed on IL

  Rotowire Apr 4, 2024

  The Cardinals placed Carpenter on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right oblique strain, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Carpenter's move to the injured list is retroactive to Tuesday, so he will be eligible to return beginning April 12. The 38-year-old has played in just three of St. Louis' seven games so far, but losing him is another hit to the Cardinals' depth, as the team is already dealing with a handful of injuries to begin the year. Pedro Pages was recalled from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Back in action

  Rotowire Feb 29, 2024

  Carpenter (wrist) is in the lineup for Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. The veteran was hit by a pitch in his spring debut, but he escaped with only a contusion and is now ready to return after a few days off. While he made three All-Star appearances with the Cardinals earlier in his career, at this stage Carpenter is in the twilight of his playing days and hoping to stick around throughout the season as a bench bat.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Hopes to play Thursday

  Rotowire Feb 27, 2024

  Carpenter (wrist) is hoping to return to the Grapefruit League lineup Thursday against the Nationals, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Carpenter was a late scratch ahead of Monday's game against the Marlins due to a left wrist contusion, which he suffered when he was hit by a pitch Saturday. He will require a few days of rest but is expected to be fine.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Scratched with sore wrist

  Rotowire Feb 26, 2024

  Carpenter was scratched from the lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins because of a left wrist contusion, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Carpenter was hit on the wrist by a pitch in a game over the weekend and is evidently still feeling the effects. The Cardinals are seemingly viewing Carpenter as day-to-day.

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• Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Reunites with Cardinals

  Rotowire Jan 19, 2024

  Carpenter signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals on Friday. The 38-year-old slashed just .176/.322/.319 last season with the Padres before being traded to Atlanta over the offseason and then released. He's owed $5.5 million in 2024 but the Cardinals will be responsible only for the veteran minimum. Carpenter could conceivably see time time in the designated hitter spot in St. Louis, but it'll be difficult for the club to justify playing time for him over younger options.

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• Matt Carpenter: Released by Atlanta

  Rotowire Dec 18, 2023

  Carpenter was released by Atlanta on Monday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Atlanta had hoped to find a trade partner willing to take on at least some of the $4 million it owed Carpenter in 2024 (the Padres also owe him $1.5 million), but it wasn't to be. The 38-year-old slashed an ugly .176/.322/.319 during his lone season in San Diego and there's a distinct possibility we've seen the last of the three-time All-Star in the big leagues.

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• Padres' Matt Carpenter: Exercises player option

  Rotowire Nov 3, 2023

  Carpenter (elbow) exercised his $5.5 million player option for 2024 on Friday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Carpenter slashed .176/.322/.319 across 236 plate appearances with the Padres in 2023 and was unlikely to attract a large offer in the open market, so he'll opt into $5.5 million heading into his age-38 season. Carpenter battled injuries and saw his playing time decrease during the latter half of the season, and it's possible he remains in a reserve role to begin the 2024 campaign.

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• Padres' Matt Carpenter: Playing time picking up

  Rotowire Sep 11, 2023

  Carpenter has started four of the Padres' past seven games after logging just 14 plate appearances across all of August. Carpenter's increase in playing time has followed Jake Cronenworth (wrist) going on the injured list in late August. Three of Carpenter's past four starts have come at first base, and he's gone 2-for-10 with a home run, two RBI and a 4:5 BB:K during that stretch. The veteran is slashing a meager .176/.322/.319 on the campaign, but he may continue to see opportunities down the stretch, though it's unlikely he becomes an everyday starter.

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• Padres' Matt Carpenter: Seeing scarce playing time

  Rotowire Aug 7, 2023

  Carpenter hasn't seen any game action for the Padres since July 24, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. As Acee points out, Carpenter is the only player in the majors to have been on an active roster continuously since July 25 to have not appeared in a game during that time. The 37-year-old is batting just .166/.296/.302 on the season, and it may only be a matter of time that he loses his spot on the Padres roster. Carpenter is making $6.5 million in 2023 and holds a $5.5 million player option for 2024.

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• Padres' Matt Carpenter: Sits again Saturday

  Rotowire Jul 22, 2023

  Carpenter remains on the bench for Saturday's game against the Tigers, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The veteran is hitting .169/.297/.307 on the season and has gone 2-for-33 at the plate in his last 16 games. As a result, he's lost his access to regular at-bats as a designated hitter, even against righties. Taylor Kohlwey filled that role Friday, but it will be Xander Bogaerts resting his legs there Saturday.

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