Carpenter will start at second base and bat fifth Sunday against the Phillies, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter moved to the bench for Saturday's 9-4 win over the Phillies, but he'll be back in the lineup for the fifth time in six games Sunday. With Tommy Edman having logged more time in right field of late due to injuries to Harrison Bader (forearm) and Tyler O'Neill (groin), Carpenter appears to have seized hold of an everyday role at the keystone.

Carpenter went 1-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored Tuesday against the Nationals.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter started his second consecutive game at second base, with Tommy Edman shifting to right field to cover for several injuries. He managed only one hit, but made it count by taking Stephen Strasburg yard in the third inning for a two-run home run. It was Carpenter's first long ball of the season, and his first real production at the plate, as he entered the game having collected just one hit in his first 14 at-bats of the campaign.

Carpenter will start at second base and bat fifth Wednesday against the Marlins, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt may have cut bait with the platoon of Justin Williams and Austin Dean in right field, as Tommy Edman will cover the position for the second day in a row. Edman's move to the outfield will open up the keystone for Carpenter, who picked up his first start in Tuesday's 4-2 win. He went hitless in three at-bats to continue his rough stretch at the plate that has lasted since spring training, but Shildt looks like he may give the veteran the chance to work his way out of the prolonged slump. Carpenter is helped by the fact that Williams and Dean have combined to go 0-for-17 with 10 strikeouts so far this season.

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt confirmed Sunday that Carpenter will begin the season as a reserve after Tommy Edman was named St. Louis' everyday second baseman, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

St. Louis may have considered giving Edman more work in the corner outfield if Carpenter had swung a hot bat this spring, but that failed to materialize. Instead, the 35-year-old has gotten off to a 1-for-34 start to the Grapefruit League slate heading into Sunday's game against the Nationals, effectively ending any hope Carpenter had of beginning the season as a full-time player. Carpenter should still have a decent chance at cracking the lineup when the Cardinals are playing in an American League park, or when Edman, Nolan Arenado or Paul Goldschmidt require a day out of the field.

Carpenter is hitting .033 (1-for-30) with one RBI, seven walks, 13 strikeouts and a run over 14 Grapefruit League games.

EDGE Analysis

Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Carpenter isn't in danger of missing out on the Opening Day roster despite his abysmal spring performance, especially considering he's due $18.5 million this coming season and the fact he isn't taking up a starting spot. Hummel also notes Carpenter's left-handed bat and defensive versatility are two other factors in his favor for the time being, but adds it would naturally behoove the veteran to get off to a productive start after the type of spring he's had and in light of his pedestrian .216/.332/.372 line over the last two seasons.

Carpenter is 0-for-8 with two walks and four strikeouts across his first four Grapefruit League games.

EDGE Analysis

It's certainly early and the sample is therefore small, but Carpenter's struggles are an unfortunate development with respect to his bid for regular playing time to start the season. Manager Mike Shildt has gone on record with his desire to try and keep Carpenter's bat in the lineup as much as possible despite the fact Nolan Arenado is now entrenched at the hot corner; nevertheless, the 35-year-old has plenty to prove after generating a combined .216/.332/.372 line across his 661 plate appearances over the last two seasons, and with the designated hitter currently not in the National League's 2021 plans, he could have a difficult time getting consistent at-bats unless he shows marked improvement over the balance of spring training.

Carpenter's exact fit with the Cardinals following the offseason acquisition of Nolan Arenado is expected to be sorted out during spring training, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The versatile veteran has struggled considerably at the plate across the last two seasons, generating a combined .216/.332/.372 line with a 26.8 percent strikeout rate across 661 plate appearances over that span. Carpenter still has some pop in his bat, however, as 47 (26 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs) of his 120 hits in that sample went for extra bases. Consequently, manager Mike Shildt is receptive to finding a way to keep Carpenter's bat in the lineup on a consistent basis, but the potential lack of a universal DH in 2021 will make that a more challenging feat to accomplish if it comes to pass. Carpenter would be a good potential fit for the team's currently vacant leadoff spot, as he's started 759 career games at the top of the order; however, the 35-year-old would naturally need a position in the field as well, and while he does have experience playing both first and second base, a platoon role at the keystone could ultimately be his best path to occasional playing time,

Carpenter is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter's absence from the lineup in a must-win game for the Cardinals illustrates just how far his stock has fallen since he slugged a career-high 36 home runs two seasons ago. His OPS for the abbreviated 2020 campaign sits at .639, 258 points below his mark from 2018. Tommy Edman will draw the start at third base Sunday over Carpenter, who could be relegated to a bench role should St. Louis punch its ticket to the postseason.

Carpenter went 2-for-3 with an infield single and an RBI double during a win over the Brewers in the second game of a doubleheader Friday.

EDGE Analysis

The 34-year-old snapped a brief 0-for-7 funk with his productive night, although he still remains well short of the Mendoza Line with just a .188 average on the campaign. Carpenter has shown occasional glimpses of his trademark power with 10 extra-base hits (six doubles, four home runs) across 166 plate appearances, but the veteran remains held down by a career-worst 28.9 percent strikeout rate.

Carpenter will be on the bench for the first of Friday's two games against the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter hits the bench with lefty Brent Suter on the mound for Milwaukee. He'll likely return to the lineup for the nightcap against righty Josh Lindblom. Tommy Edman starts at third base in his absence.