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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Cleared for strengthening program
Rotowire
Church (shoulder) received clearance from a specialist Tuesday to start a plyometric and strengthening program, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
It's a necessary first step in Church's rehab, but he's still in the early stages of recovery and there remains no timetable for his return from a left shoulder strain. Lars Nootbaar (heels) appears poised to beat Church back from the injured list, which will likely lead to a dip in playing time for Church after he returns.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Lands on IL with shoulder strain
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The Cardinals placed Church on the 10-day injured list Friday with a left shoulder strain.
Church had to be scratched from Thursday's lineup against the Pirates because he was "just a little beat up," per manager Oliver Marmol. While it's now known that the injury is focused on his shoulder, it's unclear how long Church might be out. Lars Nootbaar (heels) is due back June 1, so Church could see a dip in playing time when he does return to the active roster.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Could be headed for IL
Rotowire
Church (lower body) is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Church was scratched from the lineup Thursday against the Pirates because he was "just a little beat up," according to manager Oliver Marmol. The outfielder appears to be dealing with something significant enough to require him to be sidelined moving forward, but it's currently unclear what exactly he's being hampered by. Outfielder Bryan Torres is expected to be called up from Triple-A Memphis on Friday in a corresponding move.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Scratched from lineup
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Church (undisclosed) was scratched from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.
There's no word yet on the reasoning behind Church being pulled from the lineup, but the Cardinals should provide clarity soon. Jose Fermin will handle left field and bat seventh for St. Louis.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Nursing general soreness
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Church was scratched from Thursday's lineup versus the Pirates because he's "just a little beat up," Brenden Schaeffer of MLB.com reports.
Church was removed from a game earlier this month after being hit on the left leg by a pitcher, though it's unclear whether this is related to that. Marmol indicated he would prefer to stay away from using Church off the bench Thursday, but the outfielder should be ready to play this weekend in Cincinnati. Jose Fermin is drawing a start in left field Thursday in Church's place.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Listed in Thursday's lineup
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Church (leg) will start in left field and bat seventh against the Padres on Thursday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Church was taken out of Wednesday's game against Milwaukee after taking a pitch off his leg in the second inning, but the incident won't end up costing him a start. The 25-year-old outfielder has slashed .248/.284/.436 through 109 plate appearances this season and has hit safely in each of the last five contests in which he logged multiple at-bats.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Exits with leg contusion
Rotowire
The Cardinals announced that Church was removed from Wednesday's game against the Brewers due to a left leg contusion, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Church sustained the injury in the bottom of the second inning, when he was hit by a pitch. He took his base and played an inning in the outfield before he was lifted from the game in the top of the fourth. The injury doesn't seem to be a major concern, but fantasy managers will still want to keep close tabs on Church's status heading into Thursday's series opener versus the Padres.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Leaves game after HBP
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Church was removed from Wednesday's game versus the Brewers after the third inning following a hit-by-pitch on the left leg, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Church was struck by a Brandon Sproat offering in the shin area in the second inning. He initially remained in the game but was lifted as the Cardinals took the field to play defense in the top of the fourth. St. Louis should have more on Church's status soon.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Pair of knocks in loss Sunday
Rotowire
Church went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Dodgers.
The lefty-hitting Church continues to hit left-handed pitching, and he singled in both of his plate appearances against Justin Wrobleski on Sunday. Church is now hitting .375 in 16 at-bats against lefties, which should continue to earn him more playing time in the Cardinals' outfield. He's slashing .247/.279/.433 with five home runs, 16 RBI, 13 runs scored, three stolen bases and a 4:24 BB:K across 104 trips to the plate while playing strong defense.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Goes yard twice in Saturday's loss
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Church went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Saturday's 11-9 loss to the Mariners.
The two teams combined for eight long balls in the wild, back-and-forth affair, and Church swung the biggest bat by slugging a solo shot off Bryan Woo in the first inning and a two-run homer off Cooper Criswell in the seventh, with a sacrifice fly in between. Church missed a chance to play hero in the ninth, however, grounding into a game-ending double play. The 25-year-old outfielder has four home runs on the season, and three of them have come in the last four games, boosting his slash line to .254/.300/.460 with three steals, 11 runs and 12 RBI in 23 contests.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Flashes skills in Tuesday's win
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Church went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Marlins.
The fourth-inning long ball off Chris Paddack was Church's second homer of the season, while the steal was his third. The 25-year-old outfielder has yet to get a start against a left-handed pitcher this season, muting his fantasy appeal in shallower formats, but Church may break out of a strong-side platoon role if he continues to heat up. Over his last five games, he's gone 7-for-17 (.412) with a double, a homer, three RBI, four runs and all three of his stolen bases on the year.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Retreating to bench
Rotowire
Church is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest in Miami.
Church had started each of the last four games, but he will begin Monday's series opener on the bench. The Cardinals will go with Thomas Saggese in left field and in the No. 8 spot in the batting order.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Regains foothold in everyday lineup
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Church will start in left field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Astros.
Church made just one start last week, but he appears to have taken back control of a regular spot in the outfield when St. Louis faces right-handed pitching. He'll pick up his fourth straight start after going 5-for-11 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases, two runs and an RBI over the previous three games.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Provides spark in Wednesday's win
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Church went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Guardians.
He also made an impact defensively, recording an outfield assist as Kyle Manzardo was thrown out at home plate in the fourth inning after a George Valera double got over Church's head. The steal was Church's first of the season -- part of a 4-for-4 performance on the basepaths by the Cardinals against the battery of Slade Cecconi and Bo Naylor -- and the multi-hit effort was his first since Opening Day. Despite the big afternoon, however, the 25-year-old Church is slashing just .205/.238/.308 through 16 games on the season.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Out of lineup again versus righty
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Church is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Nationals.
It marks the second time in a row that the left-handed-hitting Church has been out of the lineup versus a righty. Church tallied three base knocks on Opening Day but has gone hitless over 23 plate appearances since then. Thomas Saggese is in left field again Tuesday and looks to have leapfrogged Church in the pecking order.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Sitting against right-hander
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Church is absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.
Right-hander Zack Littell is taking the ball for the Nationals, marking the first time in eight games versus righties this season that the left-handed-hitting Church has been out of the lineup. Jose Fermin will handle left field and bat eighth for the Cardinals. Church is just 3-for-26 with a 1:8 BB:K at the dish this season.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: On bench against southpaw
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Church is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Church had started against right-handed pitchers in the first two games of the season, going 3-for-8 with two runs and two RBI. However, with southpaw Steven Matz on the bump for the Rays in the series finale, Church will cede left field to Thomas Saggese.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Starting in left field in opener
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Church is starting in left field and hitting seventh in Thursday's opener against the Rays.
Church is lined up to receive the bulk of the reps in left field versus right-handed pitching for the Cardinals while Lars Nootbaar (heels) is shelved. Nootbaar was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, so Church should receive an extended look. Thomas Saggese and Jose Fermin are also in the left-field mix for St. Louis.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Will get reps in left field
Rotowire
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Church will get some run in left field while Lars Nootbaar (heels) is sidelined, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Jose Fermin and Thomas Saggese are the others in the mix for left-field reps. Church is the only one of the three that bats left-handed and that's a natural outfielder, which could give him a leg up for playing time early on. However, Marmol noted Monday that he does not plan to employ a strict platoon. Church is known more for his glove than his bat, but he have a breakout year offensively with Triple-A Memphis in 2025, slashing .329/.386/.524 with 13 home runs and 16 stolen bases.
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Cardinals' Nathan Church: Seems likely to make roster
Rotowire
Church has an .825 OPS through 13 Grapefruit League games and has made a strong case to make St. Louis' Opening Day roster, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports.
The 25-year-old entered camp with a fairly clear path to a roster spot, with Lars Nootbaar (heel) set to begin the season on the injured list, and Church has responded with a .290 batting average, one homer and one steal in 37 plate appearances. With the Cardinals committing to a rebuild this offseason, a strong start to the campaign could allow Church to retain a sizable role even after Nootbaar gets healthy.
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