Toronto Blue Jays vs. St. Louis Cardinals - News - April 02, 2023 | FOX Sports

Lars Nootbaar - Return not imminent Nootbaar (thumb) played catch Sunday, but it's unclear when he might return to the Cardinals' lineup, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact Nootbaar's thumb doesn't bother him while swinging a bat but apparently it's still sore when catching the ball. His return does not appear imminent, and with the Braves slated to start a lefty Tuesday, it could be at least Wednesday before he plays again.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Giovanny Gallegos - Available Monday Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Gallegos (back) is available to pitch out of the bullpen Monday against Atlanta, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports.

Impact Gallegos was unavailable for the weekend series against the Blue Jays due to a back issue, but he's evidently recovered enough to be used Monday, if needed. The 31-year-old is slated to serve as Ryan Helsley's primary setup man and could see the occasional save chance.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Whit Merrifield - On bench Monday Merrifield is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.

Impact Merrifield will sit for the second time in the Blue Jays' first four games of the season after logging starts at second base and left field on the two occasions he was included in the lineup. The keystone looks to be Merrifield's clearest path to steady playing time, but he'll first have to outperform the likes of Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal to secure a larger share of the starts at the position.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Alec Burleson - Tapped to start in left field again Burleson is starting in left field and batting second for the Cardinals in Monday's game against Atlanta.

Impact Lars Nootbaar (thumb) is missing a third straight contest and it's been Burleson filling in for him each time both in left field and in the two-hole. Meanwhile, Dylan Carlson has started just one game and that was in the eight spot, so Burleson seems to have leap-frogged him at least versus rightiies. Burleson popped a home run and added two doubles Sunday.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Lars Nootbaar - Held out again Monday Nootbaar (thumb) remained out of the Cardinals' lineup for Monday's game versus Atlanta.

Impact Nootbaar has now missed three straight starts after jamming his thumb on a slide back on Opening Day. Alec Burleson will fill in again in left field and the No. 2 spot in St. Louis' lineup. To this point, there's been no talk of Nootbaar possibly needing an injured list stint.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Matt Chapman - Three more hits Sunday Chapman went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals.

Impact The veteran third baseman has gotten off to a blistering start to 2023, going 6-for-12 during a three-game set in St. Louis. Sunday's doubles were Chapman's first extra-base hits of the year, and he's slugged 27 homers in each of the last two seasons. If he can hit for a respectable batting average as well -- the 29-year-old has batted above .249 only once in his big-league career -- he could prove to be a mid-round fantasy steal.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Daulton Varsho - Swipes first bag of 2023 Varsho went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals.

Impact The 26-year-old had his first multi-hit performance and swiped his first base as a member of the Blue Jays. Big things are expected from Varsho this year after an offseason trade from Arizona, and after stealing a career-high 16 bases in 2022, he could be ready to take a run at 20 thanks to MLB's rule changes.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE