Team decides to exclude Nolan Arenado from lineup following trade deadline
St. Louis Cardinals' Third Baseman Nolan Arenado Placed on Injured List with Shoulder Impingement
In a significant blow to the St. Louis Cardinals, star third baseman Nolan Arenado has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right shoulder. The injury, which occurred in early July, has caused him to miss multiple games and marks only the second time in five seasons with the Cardinals that he has been on the IL.
Before the shoulder injury, Arenado also missed games due to a sprained right index finger in July 2025. These health issues have taken a toll on his performance, leading to a decline in production and a prolonged home run drought. Arenado hasn't homered since June 21, and his offensive production has plummeted to career lows in 2025.
The Cardinals have recalled Ryan Fernandez, Roddery Munoz, and Andre Granillo from Triple-A Memphis to fill the void left by Arenado's absence. Meanwhile, Nolan Gorman is expected to take over third base duties, having begun a rehab assignment earlier in the week and homered in Double-A Springfield on Wednesday.
Arenado's slump at the plate in July included a .175/.230/.211 slash line, a far cry from his usual stellar performance. His season OPS has plummeted to .660, a significant drop from his career average of .873.
The Cardinals, who have recently shifted focus toward rebuilding rather than contending this season, are feeling the impact of Arenado's absence. With their star third baseman sidelined, their offense and veteran presence have weakened, reducing their competitiveness in the playoff race.
JoJo Romero is the leading candidate for the vacant closer role, while Riley O'Brien and Kyle Leahy are expected to see increased usage in late-inning roles. The team appears to be transitioning into a rebuilding phase, further signaling reduced playoff expectations this year.
The Cardinals will open a three-game set against the San Diego Padres on Friday night, a series that will test the team's resilience in the absence of Arenado. The team will rely on their younger players to step up and fill the void left by the injured star.
[1] Source: St. Louis Cardinals Official Website
[2] Source: MLB.com
[3] Source: ESPN
[4] Source: USA Today
[5] Source: CBS Sports
Sports rumors suggest that Nolan Arenado's prolonged home run drought and recent shoulder injury might affect his return to MLB, given his stretch without a homer since June 21 and career lows in production in 2025. Sportswriters are closely monitoring the St. Louis Cardinals, who, with Arenado on the injured list, are navigating a challenging rebuilding phase and faced with increased competitive pressure against teams like the San Diego Padres.
