-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Returns from paternity leave
The St. Louis Cardinals reinstated Luken Baker from the paternity list Friday.After spending the three-game maximum away from the team, Baker will now return to the active roster, replacing Victor Scott, who was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Goes on paternity leave
The St. Louis Cardinals placed Luken Baker on the paternity list Tuesday.Baker will likely miss the entirety of the three-game series in Colorado before rejoining the club this weekend in San Francisco. Victor Scott is taking Baker's spot on the Cardinals' roster.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Clubs second homer
Luken Baker went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 14-7 win over the Yankees.Baker has just three hits over nine major-league contests, batting .167 since his Aug. 20 call-up, but all three knocks have gone for extra bases (two homers, one double). It doesn't look to be enough to secure steady playing time, but Baker offers the St. Louis Cardinals some pop off the bench. He may occasionally start versus left-handers when Alec Burleson is covering for someone in the outfield or is out of the lineup himself.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Appears set to lose work vs. RHPs
Luken Baker will serve as the St. Louis Cardinals' designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Sunday's game against the Yankees.Though he's back in the lineup for the series finale, Baker looks poised to lose out on a regular starting role against right-handed pitching with the Cardinals seemingly planning to deploy the recently recalled Jordan Walker in an everyday role. With Walker settling in as the Cardinals' primary right fielder, Alec Burleson should serve as St. Louis' designated hitter in most games, though the lefty-hitting Burleson will get a rare day off Sunday against Yankees lefty Nestor Cortes.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cardinals' Luken Baker: On bench Friday
Luken Baker is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees.Baker will take a seat Friday against Marcus Stroman and the Yankees. In Baker's place, Alec Burleson will DH and bat second.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Picks up steal in win
Luken Baker went 0-for-2 with two walks, one RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Padres.Baker is hitting just .133 over eight contests since he was recalled from Triple-A Memphis, but he has drawn six walks in that span. That gives him a .364 on-base percentage. Baker has added a home run, five RBI, two runs scored and a double across 22 plate appearances. He's taken over for Matt Carpenter as the St. Louis Cardinals' preferred designated hitter versus right-handed pitchers, and as a right-handed batter, Baker has a good chance of sticking in the lineup versus southpaws as well.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Third straight start at DH
Luken Baker will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup in Thursday's game versus the Padres.Baker will make his third straight start at DH, which is especially notable given that all three have come against right-handers. He's also batted either third or fourth in each contest. The 27-year-old has produced back-to-back 30-homer seasons at Triple-A Memphis and could be worth a look in deeper leagues if the playing time sticks.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Homers off bench in win
Luken Baker hit a two-run home run in his lone at-bat in Wednesday's 10-6 extra-inning win over the Brewers.Baker provided a game-tying blast in the seventh inning to knot the score at 4-4 in his first major-league at-bat of the season. The slugger slashed .209/.313/.314 with two homers and 10 RBI over 33 games in the majors last season, and he was slashing .231/.345/.535 with 32 homers and 79 RBI across 108 contests with Triple-A Memphis prior to his call-up Tuesday. Baker figures to be a short-side platoon option at designated hitter as well as a top bench bat whenever a southpaw reliever enters for an opponent. He may not get many starts, however, as starting catcher Willson Contreras is typically the DH when the St. Louis Cardinals face lefty starters.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Summoned from minors
The St. Louis Cardinals recalled Luken Baker from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.Baker has slashed .231/.345/.535 with 32 home runs in 108 games this season at Memphis, which includes a 1.096 OPS versus left-handed pitching. The 27-year-old is blocked by Paul Goldschmidt at first base but figures to see some looks at designated hitter against southpaws.
-
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Optioned to Triple-A
The St. Louis Cardinals optioned Luken Baker to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.Baker was never able to get his bat going this spring, tallying nine hits in 44 at-bats while striking out 13 times. Baker slashed .334/.439/.720 with 33 homers and 98 RBI in Triple-A last season, and if he's able to find his swing again in the minors, he may return to the Cardinals' bench at some point this summer.