Central STL News

Asked about Lars Nootbaar’s role with the St. Louis Cardinals, manager Oliver Marmol said, “Not completely … because it’s been interrupted by certain injuries,” referring to Nootbaar’s history of being sidelined. Marmol added, “I’d like to see [Nootbaar] over a longer period of time provide some of the consistency and start to close the gap on what his ceiling is.”

Nootbaar recently had his fifth straight multihit game in the Cardinals’ 7-4 win over the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. He returned to the leadoff spot after a period out of that role due to a slump in June. In Thursday's game, he doubled in a run during a five-run second inning, hit a single at 103.8 mph, and walked twice as the team secured its third win in four games.

This performance marked Nootbaar’s career-best streak for consecutive multihit games, surpassing his previous record from earlier this season and making it the longest such run by a Cardinal since Tommy Edman had seven straight multihit games in 2019. Over these five games, Nootbaar collected 11 hits, including two doubles and three RBIs.

“I feel pretty good and I’m just sticking to the work that we’ve been working on and trying to be on time [at the plate] as much as possible,” said Nootbaar, who has raised his batting average from .228 to .244 during this stretch. “I just want to swing at good pitches. [Hitting the ball the other way] is not a conscious effort at all. I’m just trying to be on time, square the ball up and wherever it goes, it goes. After that, it’s up to the BABIP gods.”

Earlier in the season, Nootbaar started strong with eight home runs and 33 walks through March, April and May. However, he struggled in June with a .169 batting average (13-for-77), striking out more than twice as often as he walked (28 strikeouts versus 12 walks). This downturn led him out of both the leadoff spot and regular lineup. In mid-July he suffered a costochondral sprain—an injury damaging cartilage between ribs and sternum—which resulted in nearly three weeks on the injured list; this was his sixth injury-related absence over three seasons.

In past years, Nootbaar has produced more after midseason breaks—hitting 25 of his last 40 home runs after All-Star intervals—often following work on his swing with teammate Nolan Arenado in Southern California. Unable to practice swinging due to injury this July, he instead reviewed video footage of his technique.

“I’ve usually had that midseason retooling and that’s what I would credit it to,” Nootbaar said. “I saw a lot [on the videos].”

Now aware that another uneven season could affect his future with St. Louis, Nootbaar holds season statistics of .244/.335/.395 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs so far. His August performance includes going 20-for-59 (.339), which helps make his case for staying in an everyday role.

“He does have [a lot on the line] and I know he’s working hard toward it, because he’s always going to do that,” Marmol said about Nootbaar's efforts late in the year. “He takes his craft serious, and he’s hoping that his second half and these last several weeks play into that. It’s important for him to finish strong.”

Recently splitting right field duties with Jordan Walker—and covering left field when Alec Burleson moved positions due to Willson Contreras’ foot injury—Nootbaar aims for consistent playing time based on current results.

“Just take it one day at a time, really, and don’t think too much about it,” Nootbaar said regarding how he approaches each opportunity for playing time. “I want to take advantage of every opportunity possible, and that’s basically it.”