Nootbaar (ribs) took soft-toss swings Sunday and Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol saw video of Nootbaar's workouts and said the outfielder "looked really good" and "his body is responding well." Nootbaar will begin the season on the injured list with two non-displaced fractures in his left ribcage, but the hope remains that he won't be out long. He will be eligible for activation for the team's home opener on April 4.

Nootbaar (ribs) will begin the season on the injured list, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

This was always the likely outcome, but the Cardinals didn't make it official until now. Nootbaar is coming along in his recovery from two non-displaced fractures in his left ribcage and the hope remains that he won't have to miss too much time. A more specific timetable to return, however, has not been revealed. The Cards are likely to use a combination of Alec Burleson and Brendan Donovan in left field while Nootbaar is out, with Dylan Carlson also a possibility if Victor Scott makes the Opening Day roster.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Nootbaar (ribs) will have his progress re-evaluated by doctors Saturday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Marmol noted that Nootbaar was able to do some rotational exercises Wednesday and "feels better every day." However, the skipper added that the discomfort in Nootbaar's ribs is still lingering, and a timetable for his return to game action won't become clear until he's able to swing a bat pain-free. Nootbaar appears to be trending toward beginning the season on the injured list, but the Cardinals haven't officially ruled him out for Opening Day just yet.

Nootbaar has been diagnosed with two non-displaced fractures in his left ribcage, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

He suffered the injury nearly a week ago while making a twisting catch during a Grapefruit League game. Nootbaar will be monitored over the next 10-14 days and could swing a bat during that time based on his pain tolerance. The Cardinals are not yet ruling him out for Opening Day, but it would appear to be a long shot. St. Louis appears likely to be without two starting outfielders to begin the year with Tommy Edman (wrist) also banged up. Dylan Carlson and perhaps Alec Burleson could pick up the slack in the meantime. Top prospect Victor Scott could also potentially work his way into the mix.

Nootbaar underwent a CT scan on his torso Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar is dealing with lingering soreness after jamming his elbow into in his left side and ribs while trying to brace his fall along the side outfield wall during Saturday's game versus the Astros. The Cardinals medical staff reviewed the imaging Thursday, and the club is expected to have a better idea as to the severity and a timetable for Nootbaar by Friday afternoon. Nootbaar did say Thursday that he's "feeling better and better every day," so hopefully it's more of a day-to-day situation.

Nootbaar will be unavailable for a fourth straight game Thursday against the Astros because of rib soreness, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar jammed his elbow into his ribs while attempting a catch in the outfield during Saturday's game versus the Astros. The Cardinals are saying his absence is precautionary, so Nootbaar should be considered day-to-day. He's slated to be St. Louis' everyday left fielder in 2024.

Nootbaar changed his swing over the offseason in hopes of hitting more pulled flyballs, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar worked with Nolan Arenado and Arenado's brother, former minor-leaguer Jonah, extensively over the winter. He's holding his hands lower, allowing for a more vertical swing path and more freedom to stay within the ball. Woo writes that Nootbaar's biggest priority is backspin, along with higher exit velocities and barrel rates as well as lower groundball rates. While Nootbaar's plate discipline remained excellent in 2023, his quality of contact, flyball rate and pull rate all regressed. The goal is to maintain the former while improving all of the latter aspects.

Nootbaar went 2-for-4 with a walk, a three-run home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 15-6 rout of the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

He took Fernando Cruz deep in the second inning to help the Cards race out to a 10-0 lead. Nootbaar snapped a 23-game homer drought with the blast, and he's mostly struggled in September, batting .194 (18-for-93) over 26 games. The 26-year-old heads into the final day of the season with 14 homers, 11 steals, 46 RBI and 74 runs and a .791 OPS over 116 contests, numbers very similar to his 2022 campaign.

Nootbaar went 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 7-3 loss to the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Prior to Tuesday, Nootbaar had gone 0-for-15 with three walks across his last four games. That small slump hasn't cost him a regular role or a spot atop the lineup against right-handed pitchers. The outfielder has maintained a .265/.373/.425 slash line with 13 home runs, 11 steals, 43 RBI and 69 runs scored over 106 games this season.

Nootbaar will not start Saturday's game against the Phillies, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar hits the bench against lefty Ranger Suarez, but that isn't necessarily a sign that he's going to be platooned over the final two weeks of the season, as he was in the lineup against the previous two southpaws the Cardinals faced. He does own a much better wRC+ against righties (135) than against lefties (96) and has struck out 25.9 percent of the time against southpaws compared to just 17.4 percent against right-handers, so some platoon risk remains for next season. For now, it will be Tyler O'Neill, Tommy Edman and Jordan Walker across the outfielder for the Cardinals.