One of the Cardinals’ linchpins, Matt Carpenter, had two more hits and is nine for 18 since he started playing after his back stopped balking. Carpenter’s batting average is .500, his on-base percentage .608, and maybe he can hit third in the lineup.
But now for the bad news. From Jupiter came a report that closer Luke Gregerson had suffered a “mild” hamstring injury, not long after he had overcome an oblique injury. This would suggest that Gregerson, who has pitched just three innings (perfect ones, at that) in three games, may have to go onto the 10-day disabled list at the start of the season and the Cardinals can use several other pitchers manager Mike Matheny says can close.