Fowler went 2-for-2 with an RBI infield single, a double, two walks and a run in a loss to the Mets on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Fowler's play continues to be a source of optimism in both a real-world and fantasy sense, as he's increasingly looking like his old self after an outlier 2018. The veteran outfielder's on-base percentage is up to an impressive .400 across his first 65 plate appearances, and his improved patience thus far this season is evident in the 4.28 pitches per plate appearance he's seeing, the second-highest figure of his career. Factoring in Friday's performance Fowler has hit safely in eight straight games.

Fowler went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run in a win over the Reds on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The first several games of Fowlers' 2019 looked distressingly similar to last season's career-worst campaign. However, the veteran outfielder appears to be heating up the more reps he gets, as he's now hit safely in four straight games and laced a two-bagger in each of the two contests against the Reds over the weekend. Fowler has yet to leave the yard over his first 48 plate appearances, however, and his strikeout rate currently sits at a career-high 29.2 percent over the modest sample. Assuming that number eventually settles somewhere in the neighborhood of his three-season average of 21.8 percent, Fowler could continue to see his current .220 average progressively rise.

Fowler is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Fowler will sit for the second time in the series as Jose Martinez checks in for him in right field. With just six hits through 12 games and a 30 percent strikeout rate, Fowler hasn't shown many early signs that he's in store for a bounce-back season in 2019.

Fowler is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

The switch-hitting Fowler has fared better against left-handed pitching throughout his career, but he'll find himself on the bench in any case with southpaw Hyun-Jin Ryu toeing the rubber for the Dodgers. Jose Martinez will replace Fowler in right field.

Fowler went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in a loss to the Padres on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Fowler's two-hit day gave him a rare taste of offensive success during what is his second slow start at the plate in as many seasons for the Cardinals. The veteran outfielder has already battled a minor toe issue, and he's hit safely in just three of eight games. However, he has drawn five walks through 28 plate appearances, helping boost up his OBP to a solid .357 in the early going.

Fowler (toe) is starting in right field and hitting sixth Wednesday against the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Fowler exited Monday's game after fouling a ball off his toe, but X-rays came back clean and -- thanks to Tuesday's scheduled off day -- the outfielder won't be forced to miss any action as a result. Through five games this seasons, Fowler is 2-for-12 with two runs scored and a 4:4 BB:K.

X-rays on Fowler's left foot came back negative Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Fowler was sent for scans after fouling a ball off his foot during Monday's 6-5 win over the Pirates. While initial X-rays didn't show a fracture -- only a bruised toe -- the veteran outfielder will be reevaluated once the swelling subsides. Fowler was 1-for-2 with a run scored prior to exiting.

Fowler is starting in right field and hitting sixth Thursday against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

The Cardinals experimented with hitting Fowler second this spring, but when the chips are down, it seems they don't trust his bat enough to give him such a prominent spot. Paul Goldschmidt will hit second, and while this puts a little less pressure on Fowler, he will presumably be a few rough weeks away from ceding starts to Tyler O'Neill.

Fowler has hit second in eight of the last 10 spring games, but manager Mike Shildt maintains he's still undecided about who'll open the regular season in that role, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports. "We're still in a situation where it makes sense for Dexter to get his at-bats at the top of the order, see what that looks like," Shildt said hours before Fowler went 0-for-2 with a walk. "It's a combination. We like him there. And also we'll still look at some other lineups as we get closer [to Opening Day]."

EDGE Analysis

The Cardinals are looking to put Fowler in the best possible situation to succeed following a 2018 campaign in which the veteran outfielder slashed .180/.278/.298 over 334 plate appearances in the second year of a five-year, $82.5 million contract. Fowler has yet to provide much reason for optimism this spring, hitting .185 with no home runs and one RBI over 27 spring at-bats. However, a spot near the top of the order where he would be presumably surrounded by the likes of Matt Carpenter and Paul Goldschmidt would give Fowler a solid chance at both RBI and run-scoring opportunities.

Fowler batted second and started in right field Sunday in the Cardinals' 12-2 exhibition loss to the Nationals, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Mike Shildt may tinker with his lineup throughout spring training before deciding on an ideal configuration, but his early plan looks to be slotting Fowler between Matt Carpenter and new No. 3 hitter Paul Goldschmidt. While the trio went hitless with one walk (by Carpenter) in their six plate appearances, Shildt was pleased that Fowler took 12 pitches between his two trips to the dish. Even in his dismal 2018 campaign, Fowler demonstrated a similar ability to work counts, averaging a respectable 4.12 pitches per plate appearance, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Fowler's ability to wear down opposing pitching staffs may provide enough value to the offense for Shildt to stick with him in the two hole, which could make the outfielder a sneaky asset in the runs category.