Wieters went 1-for-2 with a two-run single, a walk and a run during a win over the Brewers in the second game of a doubleheader Friday.
Wieters made the final contribution to the Cardinals' nine-run barrage by plating Paul DeJong and Dylan Carlson with a timely fifth-inning single. The veteran backstop continues to see limited opportunities behind starter Yadier Molina, but he's enjoyed a solid September in the form of a .304 average with a double, four RBI, two walks, two hit by pitches and three runs in 13 games this month.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Delivers as in-game replacement
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Wieters entered Monday's loss to the Cubs as a replacement for Yadier Molina (elbow) and went 1-for-1 with an RBI single.
Activated from the injured list Friday after overcoming a toe bruise, Wieters went 0-for-2 in a start during the second game of Saturday's twin bill against Chicago. However, he bounced back Monday to deliver the only run of the game for the Cardinals in the seventh inning, marking his first RBI of the campaign. The combination of his own recent two-week absence and Molina's penchant for playing nearly every day has kept Wieters to just 16 plate appearances across eight games this season, with the bulk of that action coming when the former was in his final days on the COVID-19 injured list.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Returns from injured list
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Wieters (toe) was activated from the injured list Friday.
Wieters missed two weeks with a bruised toe. He'll return to his role as Yadier Molina's backup, with Andrew Knizner getting optioned in a corresponding move.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Runs bases Saturday
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Wieters (toe) was able to run the bases and the outfield Saturday at Busch Stadium, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
His activity level was noteworthy, as Wieters appears to have definitely made good progress over the last few days. Manager Mike Shildt confirmed to reporters that Wieters is now likely to go on the team's upcoming road trip that begins Monday and be activated from the injured list at some point during it.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Workout set for Saturday
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Wieters (toe) will work out at Busch Stadium on Saturday, the Associated Press reports.
The backup catcher will take another step toward potential activation with Saturday's workout. Wieters is first eligible to come off the injured list Sunday, and the outcome of his increase in activity Saturday will have a large part to play in the decision.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Evaluation on tap
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Wieters (toe) will return to St. Louis on Thursday to have his toe contusion evaluated, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Wieters had returned home for rest since being placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, but he'll now have the progress of his toe contusion evaluated first-hand by the team's medical staff. Wieters has been undergoing daily COVID-19 testing while away, so he won't be subject to intake testing upon arrival in St. Louis. The veteran backstop had reported to manager Mike Shildt in recent days that his toe was feeling better and had much less inflammation, so there's presumably a chance he's ready for activation when first eligible Sunday.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Sidelined with toe injury
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Wieters was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left great toe contusion.
Wieters apparently suffered the injury during Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Cubs, and it will keep him sidelined for at least 10 days. When the backstop returns, he'll assume a backup role behind Yadier Molina, who was activated from the IL in a corresponding move.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: On bench for Game 2
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Wieters is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Wieters went 0-for-3 with a walk during the matinee and will retreat to the bench for the nightcap. Andrew Knizner will take over behind the plate for St. Louis.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Retreats to bench
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Wieters won't start Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Wieters failed to collect a base knock in the first contest of the day in two at-bats. He'll get the rest of the day off with Andrew Knizner slated to take over behind the dish in Game 2.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Not starting Game 1
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Wieters isn't starting Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the White Sox.
After a long layoff for the Cardinals, Wieters is expected to serve as the primary catcher while Yadier Molina (illness) is sidelined. However, Andrew Knizner will start behind the dish for the first game of Saturday's twin bill.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Short-term playing time bump
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Wieters is set to serve as the Cardinals' primary catcher until Yadier Molina returns from the COVID-19 injured list, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Wieters has a .304 batting average in 56 career at-bats against Cubs southpaw Jon Lester, so he figures to be starting Friday, and he'll likely get several more starts before Molina can be activated. Andrew Knizner will serve as the Cards' backup.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Shortened season may be advantage
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Wieters may benefit from a shortened regular season, as the reduced number of games could prompt the Cardinals to keep prospect Andrew Knizner at Triple-A Memphis throughout the campaign.
Neither Wieters nor Knizner did much to speak of at the plate before spring training was suspended, and the fact that both the major- and minor-league seasons will almost certainly be abbreviated to some degree this year could work in the veteran's favor. Wieters was brought back on a team-friendly $2 million deal for 2020, which implied the Cardinals likely preferred to keep Knizner down on the farm for additional seasoning. The fact the 25-year-old scuffled offensively this spring and has a modest 83 games of Triple-A experience further increases the probability he stays with the Redbirds for the duration of the shortened season before a projected ascension in 2021.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Struggles at plate this spring
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Wieters was hitting .158 (3-for-19) with one double, one home run, three RBI, one walk and two runs across eight Grapefruit League games before spring training was suspended.
The veteran catcher returned to St. Louis on a one-year contract to once again serve as Yadier Molina's backup, and although he's endured a sluggish spring, he still remains the clear favorite to open the season in that role after slugging 11 home runs across 67 games during his first Cardinals season in 2019. Andrew Knizner is also in camp and considered the heir apparent to Molina, but he's also struggled this spring (.154 average across 13 games) and is expected to open the season in Triple-A Memphis.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Comes through as pinch hitter
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Wieters slugged a pinch-hit, two-run home run in his only at-bat during a win over the Nationals on Wednesday.
Wieters' first at-bat since Aug. 31 could hardly have been scripted better, as he launched a 368-foot shot to right off former battery mate Max Scherzer with Tommy Edman aboard to extend the Cardinals' lead to its final 5-1 margin. Wieters appears to finally be over the calf strain that had plagued him the entirety of September and will be available to give Yadier Molina any needed breathers over the last week-plus of St. Louis' postseason push.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Available once again
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Wieters (calf) responded well to participation in baseball activities the last two days and was available off the bench Tuesday night against the Nationals, the Associated Press reports. "Wieters is cleared," St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. "He's available."
The veteran catcher's return to action gives Shildt a left-handed option off the bench during the stretch run, as well as a reliable backup to fellow graybeard backstop Yadier Molina. Wieters had been sidelined the entirety of September with his calf strain.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Another important step Saturday
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Wieters (calf) ramped up the intensity of his workouts again Saturday at Busch Stadium and reports he is essentially feeling back to normal, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The veteran backstop has been working on being able to push off on his initial step out of the batter's box without discomfort, and this latest report seems to indicate that Wieters was able to successfully accomplish that task Saturday. Manager Mike Shildt confirmed Wieters seems to be on the verge of a return, with how he feels in the early part of the week after the ramp-up in activity likely key in determining how close Wieters may be to activation.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Continues making progress
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Wieters (calf) took catching drills without issue before Wednesday's game and then upped the intensity of his runs Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The veteran backstop continues to make notable inroads in his recovery, with the increase in activity level over the last two days extending a positive week-long trend. However, Wieters still continues to have some discomfort when trying to get a running start out of a stationary position, as is required when breaking out of the batter's box. Therefore, his return timetable remains somewhat murky for the moment.
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: To push activity level further
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Wieters (calf) will engage in a variety of baseball activities before Wednesday's game against the Rockies, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Wieters has already been hitting from both sides of the plate in the cage and doing light baseball activities such as throwing and getting into a catcher's stance, none of which have presented a problem. The veteran backstop is yet to try a running start out of the batter's box, where the calf's ability to push off is crucial. "We'll see how it goes," Wieters said. "I still have to pass the test of running. If I can't get out of the box, you're not really helping your team out too much anyway. But we'll see. We're at a point where we're not going to push it to put it at risk, but I definitely want to get out there as soon as I can."
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Progresses to running on field
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Wieters (calf) progressed to running on the field prior to Friday's game, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.
It's another key step for Wieters, particularly since this latest activity directly involves the area of his injury. Manager Mike Shildt remains hopeful of having his veteran backstop back in action at some point during the current six-game road trip, but that remains firmly up in the air. "We're not going to push, clearly," Shildt said. "He was on the field today [doing] baseball activities. How he recovers tomorrow will be a big indicator, and then we'll kind of go from there."
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Cardinals' Matt Wieters: Taking swings
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Wieters (calf) is taking batting practice from both sides of the plate, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Wieters is reportedly making good progress from his left calf strain. Once the veteran backstop is able to do calf raises without discomfort, he'll be able to add to the baseball activities he's cleared to perform. Wieters remains without a firm timetable for return at the moment, although he is expected back before the conclusion of the regular season.
