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Cardinals, Phillies, Yankees can benefit from injured players returning

By Scott Roche |
Sep 14, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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Seven weeks into the 2023 MLB season, some teams have been missing key players to their rotation or in their lineup and in the field defensively. Just ask the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees.

In some cases, those losses have played a part in their team’s slow start, while in other cases, more injuries have piled up causing a slow start in the standings. The good news is that there is still time left in a long 162-game regular season to make up some ground. More good news is that some teams are starting to get some of their injured players back, which can give a team the jolt that it needs. Here are three teams that can only benefit from some injured players finding their way back into the rotation or in the lineup.

St. Louis Cardinals: Adam Wainwright

One of the more head-scratching starts to the season resides with the St. Louis Cardinals, sitting at the bottom of the National League Central standings. There are many factors that you can contribute to their start, but at the top of the list is their pitching.

Their team pitching has an ERA of 4.48, which combined with a .257 team batting average is not a good combination. Their starters have struggled and the bullpen has been leaky as of late, giving up big innings. The Cardinals did get some good news as Adam Wainwright joined the rotation last weekend against the Detroit Tigers after a groin injury.

In his first start, he went five innings and allowed eight hits and four runs in a 12-6 St. Louis win. It was his first start of the season, so there is expected to be some rust. It is going to take him some time to work himself up, but if his history has told us anything, he will quickly catch up.

Getting Wainwright back is a big addition to the Cardinals rotation and his second start will be Friday night at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox, a good early-season test for the veteran right-hander.

Nov 3, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper (3) reacts against the Houston Astros after the ninth inning in game five of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper (3) reacts against the Houston Astros after the ninth inning in game five of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Philadelphia Phillies: Bryce Harper

Fresh off a run to the World Series last season against the Houston Astros, it has not been the start to the season that the Philadelphia Phillies were hoping for. The Atlanta Braves have already established themselves as the class of the NL East but, as the Phillies proved last season, just getting into October baseball is all you need to do to make a run.

Bryce Harper missed the first month and a half recovering from Tommy John surgery on his elbow on November 23. It was originally thought that he could return around the All-Star break in July, but he made his return last weekend against the Boston Red Sox and his impact has been felt immediately.

He’s 9-for-28 since his return and hitting over .300 with a home run and eight runs scored. Philadelphia has a lineup that should have no problem scoring runs with Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos in it, and adding Harper adds more thump to the lineup. The Phillies have the fourth-best average in the majors and adding an All-Star like Harper should only move them up the ranks.

It’s never too early to look at the standings, both in the division and the Wild Card. Philadelphia is eight games behind the Braves, but just two games behind for the final Wild Card spot. As they proved last season, all you need to do is to get into the postseason field to have a chance and Harper returning will help those chances of climbing upwards over the summer.

Oct 23, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Harrison Bader (22) celebrates with center fielder Aaron Judge (99) after hitting a home run in the sixth inning during game four of the ALCS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Harrison Bader (22) celebrates with center fielder Aaron Judge (99) after hitting a home run in the sixth inning during game four of the ALCS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Yankees: Harrison Bader

I bet when you think I’m going to say Aaron Judge returning to the lineup is just what the Yankees need. However, while that is true, another player that is also returning and adds another dimension to their defense and lineup is Harrison Bader. Judge returned in New York’s 10-5 win over the Oakland Athletics Tuesday night, but Bader returned on May 2 from a strained oblique and he has made an immediate impact.

The 28-year-old, who was acquired last season at the trade deadline in a deal with the Cardinals, is hitting .429 with three home runs and 11 RBI in nine games. His return also gives the Yankees their top center fielder back, which allows manager Aaron Boone to keep Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the infield instead of the outfield. Bader also supplies speed on the basepaths that opposing teams have to worry about.

Injuries have played a big part in New York’s start to the season that has them in last place in the AL East and the Yankees avoided losing Bader again with a potential head injury against the Cleveland Guardians on May 3, but Bader and Judge returning will go a long way into giving their lineup length.

Wainwright, Harper, and Bader, along with Judge for that matter, are players who are key to their teams this season, and getting them back will only improve their team’s chances at turning things around. In a long season, the return of a key player can give a team jolt, and the Cardinals, Phillies, and Yankees hope that happens.

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