JJ

Wetherholt

The dynamic 23-year-old rookie missed each of the previous two games due to groin soreness, but he’s right back in there at second base and hitting atop the Cardinals’ lineup against Reds’ right-hander Rhett Lowder on Sunday. Wetherholt is slashing .249/.357/.400 with nine homers, 25 RBI, 40 runs scored and seven stolen bases through his first 266 plate appearances with the Cardinals.

Wetherholt underwent imaging Friday that came back clean after he missed two games with groin soreness, which qualifies as a positive development for the Cardinals and fantasy managers. The 23-year-old rookie appears likely to return in the near future, possibly as soon as Sunday’s series finale at Busch Stadium. Fellow rookie Bryan Torres draws another start at the keystone with Masyn Winn moving up to the leadoff spot.

Wetherholt was given what was thought to be a routine day off on Wednesday, but he’s actually battling a lower body injury. He’s considered day-to-day. Bryan Torres will start in his place at second base and will bat fifth for the Cardinals against Brady Singer and the Reds.

Wetherholt will get a break from having to face Rangers lefty MacKenzie Gore. It’s his first day off since May 16. The 23-year-old top prospect has put together an outstanding rookie campaign, slashing .249/.357/.400 with 40 runs scored, nine homers, 25 RBI and seven steals through 58 games. Thomas Saggese takes over at second base with Masyn Winn moving up to the leadoff spot.

Alec Burleson had the other two. It’s Wetherholt’s second three-hit game as a major leaguer. He’s batting just .244, but that comes with 28 walks and 10 HBPs, giving him a .356 OBP,

While the Cardinals were shutout here, Wetherholt still managed to get his. This was his second straight two-hit game as he’s tormented the Pirates specifically this season, going 10-for-24 against them in six games to this point. That stolen base was his sixth on the season to go along with nine home runs as he’s been a tremendous source of both speed and power as a rookie.

Wetherholt was coming off three straight hitless games, but both times so far that he’s shown signs of going into a real slump, he’s bounced back quickly. He’s batting only .239 to date, but with nine homers and 25 walks, he has a fine .784 OPS through 213 plate appearances. He’s also yet to ground into a double play in 15 opportunities to do so.

Wetherholt receives his second day off this season with Royals lefty Noah Cameron on the mound during Saturday afternoon’s matchup after going 0-for-5 during Friday’s extra-inning marathon. The 23-year-old rookie sensation has been outstanding in his Cardinals debut, hitting .237/.358/.408 with 33 runs scored, eight homers, 22 RBI and five steals across 204 plate appearances in 44 games. It’ll be Thomas Saggese at second base in his place on Saturday afternoon.

Wetherholt drew a walk and scored a run in the first inning, then later took Joel Kuhnel deep for a two-run blast in the sixth to extend the Cardinals’ lead. He added a base hit in the eighth to reach for a third time. The 23-year-old second baseman is hitting .242/.356/.427 with eight homers, 32 runs scored, 22 RBI, and five steals across 188 plate appearances.

Wetherholt has hit another little bump in the road to begin May, opening the month 3-for-21 with no extra-base hits and one walk (which was intentional). He still has a nice .352 OBP for the year, even with his average sitting at .239, and we imagine it would take a whale of a slump for the Cardinals to take him out of the leadoff spot.