St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar exited Thursday’s game against the Washington Nationals in the seventh inning due to rib discomfort, causing concern among fans. However, the Cardinals quickly addressed the situation, with manager Oli Marmol describing the move as precautionary.
MORE: Major League Baseball announces incredible Tigers’ Casey Mize news
According to Marmol, Nootbaar felt soreness in his rib cage during the game and was removed to avoid aggravating the issue. The team is optimistic he’ll be ready to return to the lineup as early as Friday.
Precautionary move due to the soreness in his ribcage. Expected back in lineup tomorrow, says manager Marmol. https://t.co/EuKfklMYCr
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) July 11, 2025
Nootbaar is currently in his fifth big-league season with the Cardinals, having worked his way up from an eighth-round draft pick in 2018 to becoming a strong contributor in the outfield. His breakout campaign came in 2023, when he hit .261 with 14 homers and 46 RBIs, showing off both power and on-base ability.
A Slower Start in 2025, But Power Numbers Climb
Through 86 games in 2025, Nootbaar is hitting .230 with a .721 OPS. While his overall numbers are down compared to past seasons, he’s already hit 12 home runs and driven in 37 runs. At this pace, he’s likely to set new career highs in both categories by the end of the season.
The 27-year-old still has two years of team control left through arbitration and isn’t eligible for free agency until 2028. That gives the Cardinals plenty of flexibility with his future, especially if he rebounds at the plate in the second half.
Nootbaar’s Health Is Key for Cardinals Playoff Push
With St. Louis sitting at 50-44, just one game back of a National League Wild Card spot and 5.5 games behind the division-leading Cubs, every game matters from here on out. The Cardinals have been hit with injuries, such as Ivan Herrera, Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman throughout the year, and losing another starter, even briefly, would hurt.
Nootbaar’s return to full strength will be critical for the Cardinals as they aim to stay in the playoff picture. His ability to get on base, work counts, and deliver clutch hits gives the lineup balance, especially as the team find in a tight division race.
For now, it looks like Nootbaar avoided anything serious, but the Cardinals will keep a close eye on him moving forward. Fans can expect to see him back on the field soon, barring any setbacks.
St. Louis hosts the Atlanta Braves this weekend before the All-Star break.
MORE MLB NEWS:
