Walker is now batting third Thursday against the Twins.
Walker was originally slated to bat cleanup for the first time as a major-leaguer, but he'll move even higher in the Cardinals' batting order after Nolan Gorman (foot) had to be scratched. Walker slugged his 10th big-leaguer homer in Wednesday's win over Minnesota as part of a two-hit day.
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Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Scratched with bruised foot
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Gorman was scratched from the lineup Thursday versus the Twins due to a bruised foot, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Gorman fouled a ball off his foot Wednesday and will take a day off for rest and treatment. It's not a serious concern. Jose Fermin is now starting at second base and batting ninth for the Cardinals in Thursday's series finale against Minnesota.
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Cardinals' Tyler O'Neill: Takes seat Thursday
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O'Neill is out of the lineup Thursday versus the Twins.
Lars Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson and Jordan Walker are starting across the outfield as Alec Burleson takes at designated hitter. O'Neill homered both Tuesday and Wednesday, but the Cardinals did not break up their crowded outfield depth chart at the trade deadline and so there is going to continue to be a rotation of sorts down the stretch.
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Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Not in Thursday's lineup
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Contreras is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Contreras started the first two games of the series versus Minnesota and went 2-for-4 with a stolen base Wednesday, but he'll take a seat for Thursday's finale. Andrew Knizner will step in behind the plate to catch for Matthew Liberatore.
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Cardinals' Jordan Walker: Jumps to cleanup spot
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Walker is batting cleanup Thursday against the Twins.
It's the highest lineup spot yet for the power-hitting rookie outfielder, who went 2-for-3 with a homer in Wednesday night's 7-3 win over Minnesota. Walker has registered a .769 OPS (110 OPS+) with 10 home runs and five stolen bases through his first 68 major-league games.
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Cardinals' Nolan Arenado: Gets breather Thursday
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Arenado is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Twins.
This appears to be a routine breather for Arenado as the Cardinals close out their three-game set with Minnesota. Taylor Motter is at third base and batting ninth.
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Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Two hits, steal in win
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Contreras went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the Twins.
This was Contreras' third multi-hit effort in his last 10 games, a span in which he's gone 9-for-24 (.375). The catcher is up to a career-high six steals this season. He's maintained a .249/.344/.423 slash line with 11 home runs, 40 RBI, 38 runs scored and 22 doubles through 92 contests.
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Cardinals' Tyler O'Neill: Homers in Wednesday's win
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O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the Cubs.
O'Neill has homered in back-to-back contests. He's hit safely in 10 of 12 games since he returned from a back injury, going 13-for-42 (.310) in that span while seeing a starting role in left field. The Cardinals were sellers at the trade deadline, but they didn't part with any of their outfielders, so playing time will likely continue to be competitive. O'Neill is up to a .254/.324/.403 slash line with four homers, 12 RBI, 18 runs scored and two stolen bases through 41 games this year.
Walker went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-3 win against the Twins.
Walker slugged one of four homers for St. Louis in the victory, going deep off Joe Ryan in the second inning. The long ball gave him 10 homers on the campaign, making him one of 17 rookies to reach that mark this season. Walker has complemented the homer total with a .270/.333/.436 slash line, 10 doubles, 29 RBI, 27 runs and five steals.
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Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Belts long ball in victory
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Nootbaar went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 7-3 win over Minnesota on Wednesday.
Nootbaar hit one of three second-inning homers for the Cardinals in the victory, swatting a 411-foot two-run shot to right-center field. The outfielder has been swinging a hot bat of late, collecting multiple hits four times over his current six-game hitting streak. Nootbaar is batting a cool .500 (11-for-22) with four homers, seven RBI and five runs over the scorching stretch.
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Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Slams three-run homer
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Burleson went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run Wednesday in a 7-3 win against the Twins.
Burleson got the start at DH for St. Louis and capped the team's scoring with a three-run blast to right field in the third inning. The homer more than doubled his RBI total since the All-Star break -- coming into Wednesday, he had driven in just two runs over 38 second-half at-bats. Burleson hasn't been getting much playing time of late, as his start Wednesday was just his second over the Cardinals' past five games.
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Cardinals' Dakota Hudson: Takes win after joining rotation
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Hudson (2-0) earned the win over Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing three runs on two hits and three walks while striking out seven batters over seven innings.
Hudson has spent most of the season in a long-relief role, but he was moved into the rotation after St. Louis traded starters Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty. Hudson excelled Wednesday, getting through six scoreless frames before Matt Wallner tagged him for a three-run homer in the seventh. The right-handed hurler still managed to complete that inning and finished with a quality start and a victory. Hudson was a starter all of last season, posting a 4.45 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and poor 78:61 K:BB over 139.2 frames while compiling an 8-7 record.
Mikolas dropped the appeal of his five-game suspension and will begin serving it Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
The suspension stems from his intentional plunking of Ian Happ on July 27. Mikolas just started Tuesday night against the Twins and will slot back into the Cardinals' rotation early next week versus the Rays. He stands 6-7 with a 4.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 94:26 K:BB through 134.1 innings (24 starts) this year.
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Cardinals' Ryan Helsley: Tosses live session
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Helsley (forearm) faced hitters in live batting practice Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The Cardinals will likely reassess Helsley heading into the weekend, but if he reports no setbacks with his strained right forearm, he could be cleared to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. The right-hander is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list next week, and he may not need much longer than the minimum amount of time to get himself ready for game action. Once activated, Helsley should have a clearer path to the ninth-inning gig, as the Cardinals moved Jordan Hicks to Toronto ahead of the trade deadline. Giovanny Gallegos currently looks like Helsley's top challenger for save chances.
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Cardinals' Connor Thomas: Returns from shoulder injury
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Triple-A Memphis reinstated Thomas (undisclosed) from its 7-day injured list Wednesday.
According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, Jones had been on the shelf at Memphis since early June due to shoulder inflammation. The 25-year-old lefty turned in a 5.73 ERA and 1.79 WHIP and struck out 43 batters over 59.2 innings prior to being deactivated.
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Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Heads back to bench
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Carlson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.
Carlson stayed put at the trade deadline and ended up starting in center field in Tuesday's 3-2 loss, but because the Cardinals didn't deal away any of their other outfielders, his outlook for playing time over the rest of the season hasn't dramatically changed. Brendan Donovan's (elbow) season-ending injury might indirectly help Carlson, though the opening that St. Louis now has in its lineup could end up being filled by Alec Burleson, who is serving as the Cardinals' designated hitter Wednesday. Carlson should at least continue to play regularly against left-handed pitching.
