Carpenter went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter extended his hitting streak to five games and went 4-for-9 with a double, Sunday's homer and three runs in the weekend series against the Pirates. The foul ball that glanced off the infielder's foot and caused his early exit last Thursday versus the Reds didn't seem to affect him during the three-game set, and he appears primed to finish the season strong despite a career-low .246 average.

Carpenter (foot) is in the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter exited Thursday's contest after fouling a ball off his foot, although it didn't seem overly serious at the time. As expected, the 31-year-old is in the lineup for the series opener against Cincinnati, while batting leadoff and manning the hot corner.

Carpenter left Thursday's game partially due to manager Mike Matheny's desire to get more speed in the game, and partially because he fouled a ball off his foot, Derrick Goold of the St. Loius Post-Dispatch reports. He finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

EDGE Analysis

Harrison Bader pinch hit for Carpenter in a close game, so his ailing foot likely had a part to play in the veteran exiting before the game's conclusion. It remains to be seen if this is an issue that will linger, but he should be considered day-to-day for now.

Carpenter went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored during Wednesday's win over Cincinnati.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran is turning in an interesting September with an impressive .931 OPS despite going just 7-for-36 at the dish. Considering he's playing through a nagging shoulder ailment, his .500 slugging percentage for the month is especially impressive. Still, he's probably best viewed as a boom-or-bust option over the final weeks of the campaign, and there is always a chance Carpenter is shut down once the Cardinals are mathematically eliminated from the postseason.

Carpenter is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter will head to the bench for a breather after starting nine consecutive games at the hot corner, slashing .240/.500/.560 with two homers and a 12:13 K:BB over that stretch. Jedd Gyorko will make his first start at third base since Aug. 26 in his place.

Carpenter went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk Saturday against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter crushed his 20th bomb of the season to put the Cardinals on the board in the eighth inning of a road loss. He doesn't get enough regular at-bats to be in weekly lineups, but his power makes him an interesting option in leagues that allow for daily lineup changes.

Carpenter went 1-for-1 with an RBI double, four walks and two runs scored in Tuesday's 13-4 win over the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter roped a double in his lone at-bat and saw 27 total pitches. The veteran infielder's OBP jumped from .376 to .382 with this effort and he now has just 12 more strikeouts (110) than walks (98) this season. His combination of power and batting eye is what makes Carpenter such a valuable asset out of the leadoff spot for manager Mike Matheny, and both of those skills were on display here.

Carpenter went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk Saturday during the Cardinals' 4-3 win over the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter is getting over a shoulder injury that hobbled him for most of the past week, and this is a good sign that he's back to normal and could deliver more power down the stretch. His .239 batting average has disappointed his fantasy owners, but Carpenter continues to reach base at an elite pace (.377), which keeps him in favorable territory for OBP leagues.

Carpenter (shoulder) is in the lineup Friday against the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter was removed from Monday's game due to tendinitis and has been withheld from the lineup each day since. However, he's ready to return to the field Friday, as he's starting at third base and hitting leadoff.

Carpenter (shoulder) is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter will remain sidelined for a third straight contest as he continues to nurse a shoulder injury. The good news is an MRI revealed no significant damage, so he shouldn't be sidelined too much longer. In the meantime, Jose Martinez will draw another start at first base in his absence.