“It was clearly a tough decision,” Shildt said. “He understandably was disappointed but understood and accepted it like a professional and challenged himself.”
Manager Mike Shildt hopes to take advantage of Fowler's team-leading .413 on-base percentage. Carpenter is at .324 with a .203 batting average and is not at the top of the order for only the second time in a game he has started. He has led off 44 of the Cardinals' 49 games. Fowler has started in the 5-hole once, 11 times at No. 6 and 26 times at No. 7.
