Nolan Arenado
3B/DH STL
Mon 2/19/24 11:48 AM

Arenado (back) is scheduled to take live batting practice Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Arenado's involvement in the Cardinals' first full-squad workout of spring training implies that he reported to camp with no restrictions after he closed the 2023 season on the 10-day injured list due to lower-back spasms. In an effort to improve his flexibility and avoid further back problems during the upcoming campaign, Arenado took up pilates and shed a few pounds in the offseason. The 32-year-old still boasts an elite glove at third base, but he showed his some slight signs of decline in 2023, with his .774 OPS representing a 117-point decline from 2022. Arenado's batted-ball data also mirrored the dropoff in most of the counting categories, with his barrel rate, hard-hit percentage and average exit velocity all ranking in the bottom 40 percent of hitters in the league.

Nolan Arenado
3B/DH STL
Fri 2/16/24 2:05 PM

Arenado (back) is down 4-to-5 pounds entering 2024, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Arenado has also taken up Pilates to be more flexible. The 32-year-old third baseman is still expected to be the Cardinals' starter at the hot corner in 2024, so getting a little more fitness can only help to keep him on the field. He had a challenging 2023 as did many Cardinals, slashing .266/.315/.459 with 26 home runs, 93 RBI, 71 runs scored, 26 doubles and three stolen bases over 144 contests. It was the first time he finished with an OPS under .800 in a full season since his rookie year.

Nolan Arenado
3B/DH STL
Fri 9/22/23 4:11 PM

The Cardinals placed Arenado on the 10-day injured list Friday with lower-back spasms.
EDGE Analysis
This will wind up being a season-ending issue for the 32-year-old third baseman, who finishes with a .266/.315/.459 slash line, 26 home runs, 26 doubles and 93 RBI in 144 games. Jose Fermin, Juniel Querecuto and Irving Lopez are available to fill in at the hot corner over the Cardinals' final nine games.

Nolan Arenado
3B/DH STL
Wed 9/20/23 4:21 PM

Arenado is not in the lineup Wednesday versus the Brewers.
EDGE Analysis
Juniel Querecuto will start at third base and bat eighth for the Cardinals after they were officially eliminated from postseason contention following Tuesday's loss to Milwaukee. Arenado is slashing just .181/.233/.205 over his last 90 plate appearances dating back to Aug. 25.

Nolan Arenado
3B/DH STL
Wed 9/13/23 3:18 PM

Arenado is out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Orioles.
EDGE Analysis
Jose Fermin will start at third base and bat eighth against the O's and right-hander Kyle Gibson. This looks to be a routine day of rest for Arenado, who's sitting on 26 home runs and 89 RBI through 138 games this year.

Nolan Arenado
3B/DH STL
Sat 9/9/23 12:04 AM

Arenado went 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored in Friday's win over Cincinnati.
EDGE Analysis
Arenado picked up his ninth game of three-plus hits on the season on Friday night. The 11-year veteran looks to break out of his post-All-Star break cold snap as he was slashing just .247/.294/.403 over 186 at-bats in the second half before his trio of hits. Arenado is now hitting .273/.321/.478 over 523 at-bats in 134 games this season.

Nolan Arenado
3B/DH STL
Thu 9/7/23 12:40 PM

Arenado went 2-for-5 with a double, a stolen base and two runs scored in Wednesday's 11-6 win over Atlanta.
EDGE Analysis
Arenado worked the back end of a double steal with Nolan Gorman in the first inning. Prior to Wednesday, Arenado had gone just 3-for-35 across his previous nine contests. The veteran third baseman's slump has seen his slash line sag to .270/.319/.479 on the year, and he's added 26 home runs, 86 RBI, 65 runs scored and three stolen bases over 132 contests.

Nolan Arenado
3B/DH STL
Sun 8/27/23 11:16 AM

Arenado (back) will serve as the Cardinals' designated hitter and cleanup batter Sunday at Philadelphia.
EDGE Analysis
Arenado sat out Saturday's game after making an early exit from Friday's series opener due to lower-back tightness, but he apparently feels well enough to fill the DH role in Sunday's series finale. Taylor Motter will start at third base for the visiting Cardinals.

Nolan Arenado
3B/DH STL
Sat 8/26/23 3:34 PM

Arenado (back) isn't starting Saturday's game against Philadelphia, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
EDGE Analysis
Arenado had to leave Friday's contest after his back tightened up on him mid-game, and the issue is apparently serious enough to warrant him missing a start Saturday. Nolan Gorman will start at third base in Arenado's place while Tommy Edman starts at second and Luken Baker serves as the Cards' DH.

Nolan Arenado
3B/DH STL
Fri 8/25/23 9:11 PM

Arenado was removed from Friday's game against the Phillies due to lower-back tightness.
EDGE Analysis
It's not clear when or how Arenado suffered the injury, but he was replaced on defense prior to the bottom of the seventh inning. The star third baseman was hitless in three plate appearances before exiting. Arenado can be considered day-to-day for the time being.