Tyler

Greene

Schumaker suffered the injury during Friday’s game against the Marlins. Cardinals’ manager John Mozeliak said a timetable for his recovery won’t be finalized until Tuesday, but he did acknowledge that it’s “highly unlikely” he’ll be back by Opening Day. The injury leaves Daniel Descalso and Tyler Greene competing for the starting second base job.

Descalso is 6-for-13 with a homer and five walks this spring as he attempts to win a starting job at second base. He seems to us to be the better option than Tyler Greene. For what little it’s worth, Greene went 0-for-3 in the Cardinals’ other split squad, leaving him 2-for-12 so far.

The severity of the injury is not yet known. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold, the irritation resulted from an at-bat in Friday’s game. Daniel Descalso will move over from second base and bat seventh. Tyler Greene makes a rare start against right-handed pitching.

Even though Daniel Descalso has looked like the better player this spring (and most of last season), Greene is likely to be named the Cards’ primary second baseman sometime soon. He may also bat leadoff due to Rafael Furcal’s struggles. We still don’t recommend him as much more than a $1 pick, but he shouldn’t be left unowned in NL-only leagues.

Tyler Greene should still get plenty of playing time on the St. Louis infield this season, but it seems that Descalso will get first crack at the everyday second base gig.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Daniel Descalso and Tyler Greene will share the starting second base job for now. Schumaker took a few swings on Sunday, but his rehab from the back injury will be slow.

Greene also stole his third base. The owner of a .200/.304/.300 triple slash and just one home run entering this afternoon’s proceedings, Greene is now batting .256/.360/.512. His playing time will continue to be limited going forward, but Greene may have at least removed himself from the roster bubble for the time being.

“One of the things myself, Mike (Matheny) and the major-league staff thought was intriguing was giving Tyler Greene an opportunity to take this position,” GM John Mozeliak said. “His athleticism and what he brings to the table as far as speed and power... it’s a unique skill set. (That) set is something that traditionally we haven’t had in our lineup.” Greene is just a .218/.307/.313 hitter over 359 plate appearances across three seasons for the Cards, but he boasts a .291/.373/.477 career line at Triple-A and has some pop and some speed. He offers 30+ steal potential in a starting role. Daniel Descalso and Skip Schumaker will be his competition for the second base job.

The Reds are getting quite the break Wednesday, as Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is using the early start to rest a bunch of his regulars. Daniel Descalso will start at the hot corner and bat sixth while Tyler Greene plays second and bats seventh.

While the thought all winter was that Daniel Descalso would be the Cardinals’ second baseman this season, Greene was declared the favorite for the job by GM John Mozeliak at the end of last month. Whether that’s still the case is unclear. Descalso has certainly been the better player this month.