Unsurprisingly, Harrison Bader was the starting center-fielder for your St. Louis Cardinals on Opening Day. Cardinals Hall of Famer Lou Brock recently called Bader the spark-plug of the team, someone who should play regardless of whether he is hitting. His return from the 25-man roster thus might normally create anxiety with Dexter Fowler, Marcell Ozuna and Jose Martinez all mashing in Bader’s absence.
But it need not be. Fortunately, there is a solution that makes logical sense: platoon Bader and Fowler in center field and make Bader the late-inning defensive replacement par excellence against righties.