Nootbaar went 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in a 9-5 win over Atlanta in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.

EDGE Analysis

The outfielder collected three hits on the day after going 2-for-3 with a walk in a 3-2 loss in the matinee. Nootbaar is batting .250 with a home run and two doubles across nine games since he returned from an oblique injury that cost him more than five weeks. For the season, Nootbaar is slashing .237/.325/.401 with six homers, four steals, 20 RBI, 17 runs scored, nine doubles and a triple over 201 plate appearances. He's operated as the Cardinals' top right fielder since his return, though he occasionally shifts over to center when Michael Siani is out of the lineup.

Nootbaar went 2-for-8 with a solo home run, an additional run and a double Wednesday across both games of a doubleheader against Kansas City.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar was a quiet 0-for-4 in Game 1 but came to life with a solo homer and a double in the nightcap. These were his second and third games since the outfielder returned from a nearly six-month-long absence due to a strained oblique. Nootbar has started each of the Cardinals' three games (twice in right field and once in center) since his return, so he seems to be locked into a near-everyday spot in the team's lineup.

The Cardinals activated Nootbaar (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar missed nearly six weeks of action with a strained oblique and is ready to return after going 6-for-23 with two home runs during a seven-game rehab assignment at Double-A Springfield. He should resume everyday duties in right field, resulting in Alec Burleson settling back in as St. Louis' designated hitter.

Nootbaar (oblique) is nearing a return and could rejoin the Cardinals as soon as Monday in Washington.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar has been out since May 30 while recovering from a left oblique strain, but he appears to be on the cusp of being activated from the 15-day injured list. The outfielder went 6-for-23 with two home runs, three RBI and four runs scored over seven games during his rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield before joining returning to St. Louis.

Nootbaar (oblique) said he has finished his rehab assignment with Triple-A Springfield and is heading to St. Louis, Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com reports. It's unclear if Nootbaar will join the Cardinals in Washington D.C. or wait for the team to return Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar had a postgame phone call with Cardinals manager Oli Marmol on Saturday to determine whether or not the outfielder was ready to return from his assignment, which resulted in Nootbaar being brought back from Springfield. The Cardinals are finishing up a road series with the Nationals on Monday before returning to St. Louis for a five-game homestand. However, it's unknown at this point if Nootbaar will join the team before they return home.

Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said Saturday that he has a postgame call with Nootbaar (oblique) to determine whether the 26-year-old is ready to return from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Springfield, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Katie Woo of The Athletic reported Friday that Nootbaar was expected to remain in Springfield over the weekend to work on timing. In his last rehab outing Friday, Nootbaar went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, and if he and Marmol agree that more reps in the minors aren't needed, a return to the Cardinals could happen as early as Sunday in Washington DC. Prior to his injury, Nootbaar was slashing .234/.337/.404 with five home runs and 19 RBI across 164 major-league plate appearances.

Nootbaar (oblique) will remain on his rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield for at least a couple more days to work on his timing at the plate, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The initial expectation was that Nootbaar would rejoin the Cardinals on the road for their weekend series against the Nationals, but he's evidently not satisfied with his swing and will work to fine-tune things for a bit longer. It now seems likely that Nootbaar will return July 9 when the Cardinals are back home.

Nootbaar (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar said he expects his rehab assignment to last roughly six games, which would put him in line to return to the active roster July 5 for the beginning of St. Louis' series with the Nationals. The 26-year-old outfielder has spent nearly a month on the injured list after straining his left oblique during a game in late May.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Wednesday that Nootbaar (oblique) could begin a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nootbaar hit in the batting cage Monday and then took on-field batting practice Tuesday for the first time since suffering a strained left oblique in late May. It's not clear how many rehab games he might require, but a return from the 10-day injured list in early July appears doable.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Nootbaar (oblique) took batting practice Monday and will do so again Tuesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

If Nootbaar responds well to the consecutive days of BP, the Cardinals could clear the outfielder to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment later in the week. Though Nootbaar wouldn't seem to be a likely candidate to return from the 10-day injured list for any of the Cardinals' seven games this week, he shouldn't require a lengthy rehab assignment. Alec Burleson has been serving as the Cardinals' primary right fielder in Nootbaar's stead, but Burleson will likely settle back in at designated hitter once Nootbaar is activated.