The St. Louis Cardinals received a much-needed boost to their lineup last night as slugger Alec Burleson made his return from the injured list. The power-hitting outfielder had been sidelined with a right wrist injury but wasted no time making an impact, going deep in his first game back. Now, the Cardinals are set to get another major reinforcement with catcher and first baseman Willson Contreras eligible to return today.
Contreras’ absence came after an incident on August 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, when he was ejected for arguing with the umpires and tossing gum onto the field in frustration. Originally suspended for six games, his penalty was later reduced to four, meaning St. Louis will quickly get back one of its most dangerous hitters.
Burleson and Contreras have been the backbone of the Cardinals’ power this season, leading the team with a combined 37 home runs. Their return to the lineup couldn’t come at a more critical time, as St. Louis is clinging to its postseason hopes. Entering play today, the Cardinals remain 4 1/2 games out of the final National League Wild Card spot, with just 17 contests left on the calendar. Losses by both the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets yesterday presented St. Louis an opportunity to make up ground, but their own defeat kept the gap from narrowing.
The road ahead for the Cardinals is brutal. After wrapping up their current series in Seattle, they’ll travel to Milwaukee to face the Brewers, who currently own the best record in baseball. The division leaders appear multiple times on St. Louis’ schedule, with six of the Cardinals’ final 17 games coming against Milwaukee. On top of that, they must also contend with other postseason contenders in the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants.
Statistically, St. Louis faces the toughest strength of schedule in the league down the stretch, with opponents holding a combined .556 winning percentage. That reality makes a late push for October baseball a tall task, but it also offers the Cardinals one possible advantage: the chance to directly battle their wild-card rivals. If Burleson and Contreras can power the offense and the team seizes those head-to-head opportunities, St. Louis may still be able to keep its postseason hopes alive and turn an uphill climb into a dramatic late-season fight.