Carpenter (lower back), who swung off a tee Monday, will miss at least another week with his lower back tightness, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "We're still a ways out," Matheny said. "Yesterday was his first day off a tee, so there's a slow progress there."

EDGE Analysis

The Cardinals' projected starting first baseman has already been taking part in defensive drills but still must be able to swing without restrictions before being reinserted into game action. Carpenter's earliest likely return projects to be Mar. 16 versus the Twins, with the team wanting to ensure that his current ailment doesn't morph into an oblique strain, an injury that sidelined him for a month in the 2016 season.

Carpenter (lower back) is set to take swings off a tee in Jupiter on Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter will not be taking swings at full strength, but the session will serve the all-important purpose of testing his trunk rotation and unearthing any potential oblique issues as well. The Cardinals' first baseman has already announced he is forgoing his previously planned participation in the World Baseball Classic due to the injury.

Manager Mike Matheny said that Carpenter (back) has informed Team USA he will skip the World Baseball Classic, Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Evidently, the injury has progressed to a point where Carpenter has become concerned for his long-term health. Matheny mentioned that the infielder has been holding back from hitting drills over the past week while dealing with the ailment. In addition, Carpenter is concerned the back soreness could impact his oblique, something that kept him out for a month last season. Fantasy owners can rest assured that the three-time All-Star is committed to getting back to full strength by Opening Day.

Carpenter (back) may skip the World Baseball Classic, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

The versatile infielder's workouts are being "slowed down" because of his lingering back soreness, which likely means increased caution by the organization to preserve him before the 2017 season. There's still time for him to improve before suiting up on Opening Day, though the WBC may get in the way of that. Stay tuned.

Carpenter was removed from the starting lineup of Thursday's spring game because of lower back stiffness, and he's day-to-day.

EDGE Analysis

This looks like a precaution for the well-versed infielder, who's lined up to play first base on Opening Day. Keep an eye on this issue, but early indications don't provide a reason to panic in fantasy leagues.

Carpenter had a first-inning sacrifice fly and blasted a two-run homer in Saturday's 8-7 Grapefruit League victory over the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Hitting out of the three-hole with the newly-acquired Dexter Fowler now batting leadoff, Carpenter blasted a two-run homer in the third that scored his new teammate. He'd also driven Fowler home in the first with a sacrifice fly, giving the new Cardinals starting first baseman an auspicious start to the exhibition slate.

Carpenter will play for Team USA in this year's WBC, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter, who's slated to move to first base this coming season, is coming off a 2016 campaign during which he slashed .271/.380/.505 with 36 doubles, six triples, 21 homers and 68 RBI. He'll be a part of a loaded Team USA roster that includes Nolan Arenado, Brandon Crawford, Paul Goldschmidt, Daniel Murphy and Giancarlo Stanton.

Carpenter was told Tuesday that he will enter the 2017 season as the Cardinals' first baseman, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Cardinals thought that the jumbled infield contributed to the team's uneven play throughout the year, so they decided to commit Carpenter to one position right out of the gate. This move definitely hurts Matt Adams' fantasy value, but it means that Jhonny Peralta and Jedd Gyorko will likely get to compete for St. Louis' starting third base job. All in all for Carpenter, however, it doesn't affect his value a ton for the 2017 campaign given his enormous position eligibility he'll carry over from 2016, but it could drop his 2018 stock considerably for those in dynasty leagues, as he'll now have to outperform big boppers like Edwin Encarnacion to garner fantasy value as a first baseman.

Carpenter went 1-for-2 with a home run, four RBI and two walks during Sunday's 10-4 win over the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter put St. Louis ahead with his sixth-inning three-run homer, propelling his team to a 10-4 victory on the season's final day. The home run was his 21st of the season, and although Carpenter slumped after returning from an oblique injury in early August, he retained his pop with 19 extra-base hits over the season's final two months. Carpenter's overall numbers were excellent, as he finished at .271/.380/.505 -- nearly identical to his 2015 line of .272/.365/.505. When healthy, Carpenter is one of the better hitters in baseball with his combination of on-base skills and power.

Carpenter (finger) is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter sat out of Monday's contest because of pain in his right ring finger, but it seems that the infielder can swing a bat pain-free once again and can get back into action. Carpenter will slot back in at first base and leadoff against Cincinnati starter Robert Stephenson.