Bader (forearm) went 0-for-3 in a Grapefruit League loss to the Nationals on Wednesday, his first game action since March 2.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old got Grapefruit League play off to a strong start with an RBI double over two at-bats back on Feb. 28, but he'd played in just one other exhibition before Wednesday due to forearm soreness. Bader should be available without restrictions moving forward after playing a full game Wednesday.

Bader (forearm) is starting Wednesday's spring game against the Nationals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bader was initially scheduled to return to the lineup Tuesday, but the team gave him an extra day of rest while he dealt with a sore right forearm. He'll hit ninth and play center field against Washington on Wednesday, and he should have plenty of time to prepare for Opening Day.

Bader (forearm) isn't included in the lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Cardinals had previously intimated that Bader would make his return to the lineup Tuesday after missing the last few days with a sore right forearm, but the team evidently decided the outfielder could benefit from some additional rest. The injury is still considered minor, so Bader's availability for Opening Day isn't yet in question.

Manager Mike Shildt said Bader has "a little barking" in his right forearm, though initial medical imaging came back clean, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Shildt indicated the 26-year-old would likely play through the injury were it the regular season, but the team will remain cautious early in spring training. It appears to be a minor injury, so Bader could return to game action after taking it easy for a few days.

Bader, whose work at the plate will be scrutinized this spring after back-to-back subpar seasons, laced long drives off Ryan Helsley and Kwang Hyun Kim during batting practice Friday, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's just an early spring training batting practice, but seeing Bader get good wood on the ball off two quality arms certainly had to please manager Mike Shildt, who has the 26-year-old penciled in as his starting center fielder largely based on his strong defense. Bader has hit just ..205 and .226 over the last two seasons following an encouraging .264/.334/.422 line back in 2018, and he'll likely be given plenty of Grapefruit League at-bats to get his timing down ahead of what all parties hope is a resurgent season with the bat.

Bader is the only outfield candidate who's been labeled a starter by the Cardinals organization ahead of spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Goold relayed this nugget about the apparent job security in response to a reader question about Tyler O'Neill's chances of locking down the starting left field job ahead of the regular season, noting Bader is the only outfielder the team is clearly labeling as a starter at the moment. Bader's defense is primarily his saving grace, as following a promising 2018 at the plate, the 26-year-old has hit just .205 and .226 over the last two seasons. Bader's strikeout rate also concerningly rose to a career-high 32.0 percent during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, but it appears the Cardinals are prepared to give his bat a chance to catch up with his glove, at least to begin the 2021 season.

Bader signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Cardinals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old receives a couple million in his first year of arbitration eligibility after posting a .779 OPS in 125 plate appearances in 2020. Bader should begin spring training as the favorite to start to start in center field for St. Louis.

Bader went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and a triple in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Bader hit a leadoff triple in the third inning and scored on a Kolten Wong single. In the fourth, Bader provided the Cardinals' last run of the game with a solo shot. The outfielder has a .226/.336/.443 slash line with four homers, 11 RBI, 21 runs scored and three stolen bases in 50 games.

Bader went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's loss against Kansas City.

EDGE Analysis

Bader plated two runs with a two-run single in the top of the ninth inning, but his two-hit performance wasn't enough to spark the Cardinals offensively in the final game of the I-70 series against the Royals. Bader has only hit .210 this season and ended a four-game hitless streak with this performance, so it's clear he's been struggling at the plate all season long. In fact, this was just his fourth multi-hit performance of the campaign.

Bader is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Bader, who is slashing .213/.309/.340 in September, will cede his spot in the outfield to Dylan Carlson. With Carlson making his third straight start Sunday, it's possible he cuts further into Bader's playing time over the final week of the regular season.