Latest MLB News: Cardinals Infielder Masyn Winn Expected to Make Quick Return From IL
The St. Louis Cardinals have received some encouraging news regarding shortstop Masyn Winn after the young infielder was placed on the injured list with a fractured left thumb. While the injury is certainly a setback for a Cardinals team fighting to stay relevant in the National League playoff race, Winn is not expected to miss an extended period.
According to an update from MLB.com, imaging confirmed that Winn suffered a fracture in his left thumb. The injury is expected to affect him primarily when swinging the bat, but the Cardinals believe he could return shortly after completing the minimum required time on the 10-day injured list.
Winn was placed on the 10-day IL retroactive to August 22, giving him a potential opportunity to return during the Cardinalsโ upcoming series against the Los Angeles Dodgers next week. The team expects him to miss the remainder of the current homestand before beginning his path back to the lineup.
The timing is important for St. Louis, which has already endured a difficult stretch. The Cardinals entered the latest stretch of games riding a four-game losing streak and cannot afford to lose one of their important everyday players for a significant amount of time.
Winn has been a regular presence in the Cardinalsโ lineup throughout the season. In 122 games, he has posted a .238 batting average while contributing five home runs and 51 RBIs. His offensive production has been valuable, but his presence at shortstop is equally important to the club.
With Winn temporarily unavailable, JJ Wetherholt is expected to move over to shortstop and take on additional responsibilities in the infield. His ability to handle the position could become particularly important if Winn needs more time than currently anticipated to recover.
The Cardinals have also responded to the roster situation by recalling Nolan Gorman to the major league club. Gorman returns after spending time away from the big-league roster and will have another opportunity to contribute offensively.
However, Gorman enters the lineup looking to turn his season around. He has struggled at the plate, hitting only .190 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs. His struggles became particularly noticeable in June, when he hit just .050 over his first seven games of the month.
His return to the majors also got off to a difficult start. In his first game back against the Baltimore Orioles, Gorman went 0-for-4 and struck out three times. Nevertheless, the Cardinals will hope that regular opportunities can help him regain his confidence and provide some much-needed offensive production.
St. Louis currently sits at 66-67, placing the club third in the NL Central. The Cardinals are also five games behind the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card race, making every game increasingly important.
For now, the biggest positive is that Winnโs thumb injury does not appear likely to keep him out for a prolonged period. Cardinals fans will be hoping the shortstop completes his recovery quickly and returns to the lineup ready for the crucial stretch of the season.
Until then, St. Louis will have to rely on its other infielders while attempting to end its losing streak and remain within striking distance of the postseason.
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