MLB Player News

Ahmed will be on the bench for Friday's game against the Nationals.

Ahmed owns a .762 OPS over his last 10 games after struggling to a .397 mark over his first 20 contests. Josh Rojas will start in his absence Friday.

Crawford (COVID-19) will start Friday at Pittsburgh, Mark W. Sanchez of KNBR 680 San Francisco reports.

The 34-year-old was sidelined Thursday while experiencing some side effects from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, but he'll rejoin the lineup Friday after a day off. Crawford is 7-for-21 with three homers, six walks, eight RBI and six runs over eight games in May.

Rojas went 2-for-5 with a double, run, RBI and strikeout in a 5-1 win over Arizona on Thursday.

Rojas plated the game's first run with his third-inning single and later contributed to a three-run seventh with a double. In 11 games this month Rojas has raised his OPS from .666 to .808.

Edman went 1-for-4 with a single, a walk, a run and two stolen bases in the Cardinals' 2-0 win over the Brewers on Thursday.

Edman hit a single to lead off the game and stole second base, which led him to score on a Nolan Arenado single. The 26-year-old added another stolen base in the fifth inning and he is third in all of baseball with seven steals. He is slashing .277/.337/.381 in 169 plate appearances. In the month of May, he is batting .286 with four runs.

Swanson went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and three strikeouts in Thursday's 8-4 loss to the Blue Jays.

Swanson was hitless in eight at-bats across the last two games, but he hit his third home run in his last six contests Thursday. Swanson is now slashing .213/.282/.382 with five home runs, 12 RBI and 12 runs this season.

DeJong (side) could require a stint on the injured list, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Manager Mike Shildt said Thursday that DeJong's MRI revealed "mostly good news," but his injury could still create a pause. The 27-year-old will travel with the team for its upcoming road trip in San Diego, but the Cardinals will bring an extra infielder in case DeJong is placed on the injured list. If DeJong misses additional time, Edmundo Sosa could see increased at-bats.

Story isn't starting Thursday's game against the Reds, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Story will get a breather after he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Thursday's nightcap against San Diego. Alan Trejo will start at shortstop and bat eighth.

Crawford isn't starting Thursday's game against the Pirates due to side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Crawford will be eligible to return to the lineup as soon as his symptoms subside. Mauricio Dubon will start at shortstop and bat eighth.

DeJong (side) isn't starting Thursday against the Brewers, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

DeJong left Wednesday's loss to the Brewers with left side tightness and will undergo an MRI on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury. Tommy Edman will shift to shortstop while Matt Carpenter starts at second base.

DeJong (side) will undergo an MRI on Thursday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The 27-year-old exited Wednesday's loss with left side tightness, and the issue is in a similar spot to where he was hit by a pitch Tuesday. The MRI is scheduled around 11 a.m., so DeJong is unlikely to be available for Thursday's early afternoon start with the results expected to come through during the game.