Matt Carpenter

Carpenter expected to miss a few days with back tightness

Published Mar. 18, 2019 10:38 a.m. ET

JUPITER, Fla. — Back tightness is expected to keep St. Louis third baseman Matt Carpenter out of the lineup until Wednesday.

Carpenter first noticed the issue on Saturday, when he wasn't scheduled to be in the lineup. The three-time All-Star was scheduled to play Sunday, but the Cardinals elected to be cautious. St. Louis has a scheduled day off Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Carpenter hit .257 with 36 homers last season.

"Nothing serious," Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. "We're not concerned about it. He's not concerned about it. We want to be judicious and give him a couple of days. We'll play it day-by-day. He's going to be fine."

With Carpenter out, Shildt put Dexter Fowler in the leadoff spot and moved slugger Paul Goldschmidt from his usual third to the second spot in the order for the first time this spring.

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Matt Carpenter

St. Louis Cardinals

Major League Baseball