JUPITER, Fla.—And the leadoff hitter for the Cardinals is. . .
Dexter Fowler, at least for the first exhibition game of the season Saturday here against the New York Mets.
Fowler, who led off in 51 of the 162 regular-season games last year, will play right field and hit first, followed by Matt Carpenter, who is playing third.
Other regulars who will be in the lineup are Paul Goldschmidt, hitting third as the designated hitter, and catcher Yadier Molina, who will bat ourth.
Both Tyler O’Neill and Lane Thomas, competing for a starting outfield job, are playing, as is Tommy Edman at shortstop, a position he did not play during his first season with the Cardinals.