Matt Carpenter, the Cardinals’ third baseman once and again, owes his return to that side of the diamond to the acquisition from Arizona of Paul Goldschmidt as the Cardinals’ new first baseman. But while Goldschmidt’s presence can help Carpenter defensively, as he can concentrate on just one position rather than three, he also can draw some offensive help from Goldschmidt.
As erratic, yet very productive, as Carpenter’s season was in 2018, Goldschmidt’s was almost equally so. Carpenter was hitting .140 on May 15 but then batted .313 in June, .333 in July and .262 in August, totaling 28 of his 36 home runs in those three months.