PHOENIX • In late May, on the one day this season that Cardinals left fielder Marcell Ozuna started a game and did not hit cleanup for the team, he approached manager Mike Matheny before the game with a concern.
As the Cardinals have shuttled and shuffled hitters around the lineup and all over the field in order to try to ignite the offense, Ozuna has been the constant, the advertised force recast as immovable object. It’s around him that the lineup revolves.
“I like him fourth,” Matheny explained Wednesday before the series finale against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.