The St. Louis Cardinals aren’t mathematically out of the playoff hunt, but their chances are hanging by a thread. They sit 4.5 games back of the New York Mets for the final NL Wild Card spot, with four teams to leapfrog in the standings. Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners only made their uphill climb steeper, but the team has no plans to fold — especially with franchise centerpiece Masyn Winn leading the charge.
Winn sat out Tuesday’s game with a meniscus tear that has been nagging him, giving way to Thomas Saggese at shortstop. It’s unclear if his absence will extend beyond one game, but the injury has reached the point where rest became necessary.
Still, at just 23, Winn wants to stay on the field for as long as his knee allows. He admitted he’ll need medical attention once the season ends, but said the injury won’t worsen if he keeps playing.
“Some stuff is going to have to be done this offseason to help me out. I want to finish the year as strong as possible. I was told I probably can’t do too much worse to it. If I can’t hurt myself any further because of this, then I want to be out there,” Winn told Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Given Winn’s value to the organization, the Cardinals will likely err on the side of caution with his workload. Even so, his determination to push through and finish strong only strengthens his bond with fans.
Masyn Winn is the Cardinals’ franchise cornerstone
Masyn Winn has been nothing short of valuable in his first two full seasons with the Cardinals, amassing 7.1 WAR (per FanGraphs), thanks largely to his standout defense at one of the most demanding positions on the field.
At 23, there’s reason to believe his bat still has another level to reach. As a rookie, he posted a 104 wRC+, slightly above league average, but that figure has slipped to 91 this season as his power numbers have dipped. Even so, his youth and talent point to plenty of growth ahead. For the Cardinals’ cornerstone, it feels like a matter of when, not if, the offensive consistency comes — assuming he can move past the injuries that may be hindering his performance.