Matt Carpenter was off to another MVP-caliber season in 2016. Through July 6th, he was hitting .298/.420/.568 with 14 homers, 25 doubles, 53 RBI, and 56 runs in 78 games. He was having arguably his best season at the plate in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform.
Unfortunately, in the third inning of a rivalry game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Matt Carpenter would be pulled in the middle of his second at-bat. The team would later learn that he strained his right oblique and would be out for an extended period.