Lars

Nootbaar

Nootbaar smacked a run-scoring single off of Tyler Alexander in the fifth inning that extended the Cardinals’ lead to 2-0 then came around to score on an RBI knock off the bat of Brendan Donovan. He also drew a walk to start the game on Friday, but was picked off of first base. He has done a nice job as a table-setter for the Cardinals this season, slashing .253/.393/.411 with four homers, 15 RBI and three stolen bases.

Nootbaar opened the scoring in the ballgame in the third inning as he crushed a first-pitch slider from Scott Blewett for a 365-foot (100.0 mph EV) two-run blast. He also was walked intentionally in the eighth inning, swiped second base and scored on Nolan Gorman’s go-ahead three-run double. Nootbaar finished his night with an RBI single in the ninth inning.On the season, the 27-year-old outfielder is now slashing .247/.380/.416 to go along with four homers, 14 RBI and three stolen bases.

Nootbaar will take a seat with the Cardinals going righty-heavy against David Peterson and the Mets. Victor Scott II will get the start in left field and bat leadoff in Nootbaar’s place.

Nootbaar is off to the kind of start that could lead to an All-Star appearance if he can stay healthy for once. He’s batting .284/.422/.463 with three homers and a pair of steals through 17 games. He’s tied for third in the majors with 15 walks, one behind Marcell Ozuna and Kyle Tucker.

Nootbaar set the table beautifully in this one, reaching safely in all three of his plate appearances against Aaron Nola. He is totally locked in right now in terms of pitch selection and has a .403 on-base percentage in what’s now been two straight weeks atop the Cardinals’ lineup. It was nice to see him steal his first two bases of the season too.

Scott gets the nod to face Pirates ace Paul Skenes with Lars Nootbaar getting a rare day off. The 24-year-old speedster is hitting .281 (9-for-32) with one homer, five RBI and four steals through nine games.

Nootbaar isn’t only hitting everything hard and typically more in the air this year, but he’s struck out only once in 19 plate appearances. Now that he’s playing every day and batting leadoff, he doesn’t need to maintain this kind of pace to be very useful in mixed leagues. Of course, his durability issues could always pose problems at some point.

Nootbaar led off the first inning with a base hit and scored the first run for St. Louis on a single by Nolan Arenado. He reached to lead off the third on a hit-by-pitch, then knocked a second hit in the sixth. Noorbaar drew a walk to reach for the fourth time in the eighth. The 27-year-old outfielder has now been on base six times through two contests as he starts the year in the leadoff spot for the Cardinals.

Nootbaar is back in the leadoff spot for the second straight game after going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer during Thursday’s season-opener at Busch Stadium. The 27-year-old’s ascension to the leadoff spot comes in the wake of Masyn Winn’s ice-cold spring and it doesn’t look like he’s going to be moved down anytime soon. It’s an unexpected boost for his fantasy value as it’ll result in an uptick in plate appearances and runs scored.

Nootbaar took Pablo López deep in the third inning to extend the St. Louis lead in the third inning. The 27-year-old hit at the top of the Cardinals’ lineup for the Opening Day victory, and it’s nice to see some early success. Nootbaar’s fantasy upside increases considerably if he gets more plate appearances and more chances to be driven in by the middle of the order. So far so good.