Top stars latest injury is another tough break for both the catcher and the St. Louis Cardinals, especially considering how well he was performing before landing back on the shelf. After overcoming a knee bruise earlier this season, he had quietly become one of the team’s most valuable hitters, slashing .320 with a .925 OPS and 160 wRC+ while also emerging as a trusted presence behind the plate. But now, a Grade 2 left hamstring strain suffered during the doubleheader against the White Sox will sideline him for an expected 2–6 weeks—likely closer to the longer end.
It’s a major setback, not just for his momentum, but for a Cardinals team that had finally begun to stabilize its catching situation. His absence removes a steady bat from the lineup and a catcher that pitchers had grown comfortable with. Not long ago, there was chatter about the Cardinals having too many catchers to manage—now, that “good problem” has flipped into a depth challenge.
Willson Contreras has remained mostly at first base to preserve his health and offensive production, so the bulk of catching duties will now fall on Pedro Pagés and Yohel Pozo. Pagés has been dependable defensively, and Pozo recently provided a much-needed lift with his walk-off hit against the Reds. But even with those contributions, replacing what Herrera brought on both sides of the ball won’t be easy.
Compounding matters is the grind of the season, intensified by the six doubleheaders the team has already endured. Playing 18 innings in a day is especially taxing on catchers, who aren’t just logging time—they’re absorbing the physical toll of squatting for hours in humid Midwest heat. The split workload may look manageable on paper, but it disrupts routine and accelerates fatigue. With more summer heat and fewer rainouts ahead, that wear and tear could start to show across the roster.
The Cardinals have proven resilient, even scrappy—battling through injuries to key players like Nolan Gorman and Brendan Donovan, and mixing and matching in the bullpen despite limited rest. But every new injury chips away at that depth, and Herrera’s loss hits at the very core of the defense.
There’s still time for the Cardinals to regroup, and recent momentum—including a five-game win streak—suggests they’re not folding under pressure. But the margin for error is shrinking, especially as the wild card race intensifies and the heat ratchets up.
In the meantime, fans can take heart in this team’s resolve. As the narrative goes, this is a “youngry” group—young, hungry, and capable of rising to the moment. And if that means a new backup catcher ends the day drenched in Gatorade, then so be it.