Whenever and wherever Kolten Wong returns to the Cardinals’ lineup, how they’ll tread cautiously with the second baseman’s injured leg is already clear.
Hounded by a sore hamstring, Wong went through a series of tests Sunday to determine his readiness to play and was only available if “we really, absolutely needed him,” manager Mike Shildt said. The hope had been to get Wong back for Sunday’s game against San Francisco, but the pain had lingered, and the team’s concern is certain to last one day longer than the pain at this point. Yadier Molina (hamstring) and Jedd Gyorko (groin) are also limited by recent leg injuries, leading the team to urge them to run with trepidation.