MATT CARPENTER NEWS

Comes through with double in win Carpenter went 2-for-3 with an infield single and an RBI double during a win over the Brewers in the second game of a doubleheader Friday.

Impact The 34-year-old snapped a brief 0-for-7 funk with his productive night, although he still remains well short of the Mendoza Line with just a .188 average on the campaign. Carpenter has shown occasional glimpses of his trademark power with 10 extra-base hits (six doubles, four home runs) across 166 plate appearances, but the veteran remains held down by a career-worst 28.9 percent strikeout rate.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals, Brewers split doubleheader amid playoff chase

Daniel Ponce de Leon pitched one-hit ball over six innings, Tommy Edman hit a two-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 to split their pivotal double...

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not starting afternoon game Carpenter will be on the bench for the first of Friday's two games against the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Carpenter hits the bench with lefty Brent Suter on the mound for Milwaukee. He'll likely return to the lineup for the nightcap against righty Josh Lindblom. Tommy Edman starts at third base in his absence.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Wednesday Carpenter isn't in Wednesday's lineup against the Royals.

Impact Carpenter has reached base in each of the past three contests, but he's largely struggled late in the season. Tommy Edman will start at third base Wednesday.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Belts fourth homer Carpenter went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Royals on Monday.

Impact The veteran squared up on a fourth-inning Carlos Hernandez offering and sent it 439 feet into center field. The round tripper accounted for the Cardinals' only run of the night and was Carpenter's first since Sept. 12. Despite Monday's success, it's been another difficult season at the plate for Carpenter, who's still in the midst of a 2-for-26 slump that covers his last nine games and has sunk his season average back down to .188.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Royals rally behind stout bullpen to beat Cardinals, 4-1

Maikel Franco hit the go-ahead single with two outs in the sixth inning, the Kansas City bullpen shut down the St. Louis Cardinals from the fourth inning on, and the Royals rallied...

SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Molina homers, Flaherty fans 11 as Cardinals top Pirates 2-1

Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer and Jack Flaherty pitched six dominant innings as the St. Louis Cardinals kept their hold on a postseason spot with a 2-1 victory over the Pittsbu...

SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Out of Thursday's lineup Carpenter is not in the lineup Thursday against the Pirates, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Carpenter started the past nine games but will receive a breather as he's hitless in his past 13 at-bats. Tommy Edman will start at third base while Rangel Ravelo works in right field Thursday.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

This Date in Baseball

This Date in Baseball for Sept. 21, 2020

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Late lineup addition Carpenter will start at third base and bat seventh Tuesday against the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact The 34-year-old was originally absent from Tuesday's lineup against southpaw Brett Anderson, but he'll join the starting nine in place of Kolten Wong (undisclosed). Carpenter is 9-for-34 with an .890 OPS through 14 games in September.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Tuesday Carpenter is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

Impact Carpenter had gone 6-for-12 at the plate over a four-game stretch before going hitless in both halves of Monday's doubleheader. Tommy Edman moves in to third base in his absence, with Rangel Ravelo starting in right field.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Continues surging Sunday Carpenter went 2-for-4 with an RBI single, a double and two runs in a loss to the Reds on Sunday.

Impact Carpenter was the only Cardinal to churn out multiple hits in the five-run loss, with the veteran extending a hot streak at the plate that has seen him produce a trio of two-hit efforts in the last four contests. It's a highly welcome sight for Carpenter's long-suffering fantasy managers, who just saw him finally get his average over the Mendoza Line for the first time since Aug. 27 on Saturday. Carpenter has also shown a penchant for clutch hitting in particular of late, as he now has six RBI over the last six games.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Clubs third homer Carpenter went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Reds.

Impact Carpenter gave the Cardinals some breathing room in the sixth inning with a leadoff solo shot. The veteran infielder has three homers, 20 RBI and 17 runs scored in 35 games this season while slashing .204/.366/.337 across 123 plate appearances.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Bregman gets big hit as Astros rally past Dodgers

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Castillo pitches 2-hitter, Votto HR as Reds beat Cardinals

Luis Castillo pitched a two-hitter for his first complete game in the majors, Joey Votto homered and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Plates pair in nightcap Carpenter went 2-for-2 with an RBI single and a run-scoring double during a loss to the Tigers in the second game of a doubleheader Thursday.

Impact After sitting out Game 1 of the twin bill, Carpenter was the only other source of runs outside of Tommy Edman in Game 2. The veteran was making his first start since Monday, but he's made relatively good use of his opportunities thus far in September. Carpenter has managed to generate five RBI on just five hits during the month, and thanks in part to the five walks he's also drawn, he boasts a .423 on-base percentage across 26 plate appearances over that span.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals mailbag: Will Dylan Carlson be back? Why still play Matt Carpenter? Our regular feature answering subscribers' questions also includes inquiries on Carlos Martinez and the team's ability to value hitters.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Matt Carpenter and the End of Optimism I’m running out of optimistic things to say about Matt Carpenter, who is now among the worst hitters in the game. Is there any hope for him?

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 • VIVAELBIRDOS.COM

Sitting for Game 1 Carpenter is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers.

Impact He is really scuffling at the plate, batting .111 with one extra-base hit over his last 36 at-bats. Thankfully, Carpenter has at least walked 11 times over that stretch. Tommy Edman will start at the hot corner while Lane Thomas gets a start in the outfield.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting afternoon game Carpenter is not in the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Twins, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Carpenter has just three hits in his last 12 games, though the veteran was never all that likely to start twice in one day. Tommy Edman will be the third baseman in his absence.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Checks back into lineup Carpenter will start at third base and will bat seventh Monday against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Carpenter was on the bench for the last two games, likely just as a means of hitting the reset button after he slashed .116/.367/.209 over his previous 15 games. While the 34-year-old still boasts a patient eye at the plate (13.4 percent walk rate since 2019), his power production and strikeout rate have been trending in undesirable directions over the past two seasons. He's struck out in 26.8 percent of his plate appearances and has posted a .156 ISO during that two-season stretch, both well off his career marks of 19.9 percent and .191, respectively.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Homers for lone run Carpenter went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Cubs.

Impact Carpenter was the only Cardinal to manage a hit off Cubs starter Yu Darvish, and that hit left the yard in the sixth inning. It's the second homer of the year for Carpenter, to go with 14 RBI and 14 runs scored across 27 games. He's slashing .181/.340/.289 through 103 plate appearances.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Darvish, Contreras lead Cubs past Cardinals 4-1

Yu Darvish pitched seven dazzling innings in his seventh consecutive win, and the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 in the opener of a big five-game series

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS