The St. Louis Cardinals have been experiencing inconsistent form recently. They were just swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates on the road, following a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Prior to those results, they split a home series with the Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals will renew their rivalry with the Cubs on Friday as the two teams face off once again.
Ahead of the series opener, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak provided injury updates to reporters, including Katie Woo of The Athletic, who shared the news on X (formerly Twitter).
“John Mozeliak said today Iván Herrera (hamstring) is ramping up well and could begin a rehab assignment in roughly a week and a half & a post-ASB return is possible,” Woo posted. “Also said Jordan Walker (appendicitis) will continue getting reps with Springfield but shouldn’t be too long.”
Having both Herrera and Walker return would be a significant boost for the team. Herrera had recently secured the starting catcher role, while Walker was beginning to find consistency at the major league level. Both are seen as important building blocks for the future of the franchise. Mozeliak, who plans to step down from his position after the season, is hopeful they’ll be part of the legacy he leaves behind. The question now is whether Herrera and Walker can return in time to aid the Cardinals in their push for the postseason.
Can Jordan Walker and Ivan Herrera help Cardinals after All-Star Break?
Herrera’s Grade 2 left hamstring strain was a significant setback for the Cardinals when it happened a few weeks ago. He had been settling in well as the team’s primary catcher and developing strong chemistry with the pitching staff. It raised hopes that St. Louis might have finally found Yadier Molina’s long-term successor. Although Willson Contreras was signed to fill that void, he’s now playing first base. For the time being, the Cardinals will have to manage without Herrera.
As for Walker, his appendicitis was an unfortunate and unexpected setback. However, he’s already begun a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield, so there’s a real chance he could return before the All-Star Break. Still, the Cardinals may opt to be cautious and wait until after the break to bring him back. Either way, if both Walker and Herrera can contribute to the team’s playoff push, the sooner they return, the better it will be for St. Louis.
