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.

Nootbaar went 2-for-5 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 11-5 loss to the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar has cooled off in September, going 7-for-35 (.200) across 10 games this month. Four of his hits in that span have gone for extra bases, and he's added two steals. The outfielder continues to see a near-everyday role and some time atop the Cardinals' lineup. He's slashing .275/.381/.445 with 10 thefts, 13 home runs, 42 RBI, 67 runs scored and 21 doubles through 100 contests this season.

Nootbaar is absent from the lineup Thursday in Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

Tyler O'Neill, Tommy Edman and Jordan Walker will start across the outfield as the Cardinals match up against left-hander Max Fried. Nootbaar has posted an .855 OPS in 317 plate appearances this year against righties, compared to a .704 OPS in 96 plate appearances versus southpaws.

Nootbaar went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's 6-4 win over the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar went 2-for-12 with three walks, a home run and a stolen base over three games versus the Pirates during this weekend's series, his first action since mid-August. He's back to playing a starting role in center field after recovering from a groin injury. The outfielder has also returned to the leadoff spot versus right-hander pitchers. Nootbaar is slashing .279/.381/.452 with 13 home runs, 40 RBI, 63 runs scored and nine stolen bases through 93 contests overall. He's also maintained strong strikeout (19.6 percent) and walk (14.1 percent) rates.

Nootbaar went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar returned Friday from a two-week absence due to a groin injury. He's just 1-for-9 across two contests since he was activated from the injured list. Prior to sustaining the injury, he hit .333 (18-for-54) in August. For the season, he's at a .278/.378/.453 slash line, 13 long balls, 40 RBI, 61 runs scored and eight stolen bases through 92 contests in a breakout campaign. He should see plenty of playing time in the outfield over the final month of the season.