Dylan

Carlson

Carlson singled home a run in the sixth, and that tied the game at 5-5. The outfielder gave the Cardinals an 8-5 lead two innings latter with a two-run double, and that’s the first two-bagger of the season for the 25-year-old. Carlson once looked like a potential fantasy stalwart, but injuries and inconsistent play have left him as a player that should be left on the waiver wire in the overwhelming majority of leagues.

The 27-year-old infielder is considered day-to-day for the time being. Dylan Carlson will take his place in the Cardinals’ lineup and will bat eighth against Aaron Nola and the Phillies while Matt Carpenter slides up to the leadoff spot in the team’s batting order.

Nootbaar felt something in his side after taking a swing and was removed from Wednesday’s game. Now he lands on the injured list and will likely wind up missing a couple weeks. Alec Burleson and Dylan Carlson will see increased playing time in the outfield in Nootbaar’s stead.

Carlson started each of the team’s previous two games, but he’ll catch a seat on the pine for Saturday’s battle against right-hander Freddy Peralta. Matt Carpenter will start and serve as the Cardinals’ designated hitter with Alec Burleson shifting to right field.

Carlson is off the injured list, and the 25-year-old is hitting fifth while playing center field in his debut. The outfielder missed just around a month after injuring his shoulder in a crash during spring training. Carlson helps the Cardinals’ depth, but the former top prospect hasn’t had much offensive success at the highest level just yet. Fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach.

Pedro Pages will be optioned to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move on Sunday. Carlson has been shelved since spring training due to his shoulder injury but is finally ready to return to the Cardinals’ outfield. Remember, he hit just .219/.318/.333 with five homers, 27 RBI and three stolen bases over 255 plate appearances during the 2023 campaign.

Keep in mind that with the Cardinals is not the same thing as being activated off the injured list. That being said, a return is obviously close for the 25-year-old outfielder. Once active, Carlson should be an option for the outfield, but not necessarily one fantasy managers should be running to the waiver wire to add.

Carlson will likely require a handful of rehab contests before rejoining St. Louis’ outfield mix at some point in the next week or so. The 25-year-old was at designated hitter in his rehab debut and should get back into center field at some point this week. He’s been out since spring training recovering from a left shoulder sprain that he suffered during an on-field collision.

The Redbirds will have an outfield of Carlson, Jordan Walker and Victor Scott, which is pretty fun. Carlson has been out all year with his shoulder injury, but if everything goes well during his rehab assignment in Triple-A, he should be back with the Cardinals in the early portion of May.

That according to Cardinals manager Oli Marmol. The outfielder hasn’t been able to play games in 2024 because of his shoulder injury, but assuming he’s able to begin that rehab assignment with Memphis in the coming days, he should be an outfield option for the Cards in the coming weeks, if not days.