St. Louis Cardinals Mismanage Injured List Again, Depth Suffers

The St. Louis Cardinals’ 2024 season hasn’t just been about streaky play. There’s a troubling trend in how the team handles player injuries.

Instead of making timely injured list (IL) moves, the club keeps banged-up stars on the active roster. That’s led to reduced performance, shorthanded benches, and missed chances when it matters most.

Sure, pride, leadership, and chasing awards might play a part in this reluctance to rest. But the cost? It’s showing in the standings, and fans are noticing.

A Troubling Pattern in Injury Management

The Cardinals’ injury approach isn’t just a one-time thing. This season, they’ve left injured players on the active roster while they miss games, giving manager Oliver Marmol fewer options.

He’s had to juggle lineups and make do with a thin bench during crucial stretches. That’s a tough ask for any manager.

Masyn Winn’s Meniscus Challenge

Rookie sensation Masyn Winn has missed four straight games with a torn meniscus. Instead of an IL stint, the team’s waiting for offseason surgery.

Winn’s drive to play makes sense — he’s chasing a Gold Glove Award and leads all of Major League Baseball in Outs Above Average (22). He’s also on pace for the best fielding percentage by a Cardinals shortstop.

But honestly, the defensive stats already make him the favorite. Pushing through now feels like it risks more than it rewards.

The Arenado Shoulder Saga

Back in July, Nolan Arenado dealt with a stubborn shoulder injury. He tried to tough it out, missing games but avoiding the IL, and his struggles continued.

Eventually, he landed on the injured list in August. By then, the Cardinals had stumbled to a 4-8 record while he bounced between playing and sitting.

The fallout? His numbers dipped, and the bench depth took a hit.

August Injuries and the Mounting Cost

The same thing kept happening. Both Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras missed several August games but never hit the IL.

With two key guys sidelined but still technically active, the team limped to a 3-6 record in that stretch. A quick IL move could’ve brought up fresh legs and kept the lineup balanced.

Manager Oliver Marmol’s Roster Strain

Marmol’s faced a constant uphill battle because of these choices. Night after night, he’s tried to build lineups with almost no flexibility.

The short bench means fewer pinch-hitters and less defensive coverage, especially late in games. Veterans might not want an IL stint, but the team’s got to protect both players and their own shot at winning.

Why the Cardinals Can’t Afford This Approach

This ongoing reluctance to use the IL has exposed deeper roster issues. Every time the Cardinals miss a chance to field a full team, it’s a missed win — and in a tight division race, that stings.

Balancing Player Pride with Team Health

Veterans like Arenado, Contreras, and Donovan want to stay in the fight, even banged up. Leaders try to set the tone by playing through pain, but an unavailable player taking up a roster spot isn’t really helping anyone.

The Cardinals have to find a way to respect that competitive spirit while still making calls that protect the team’s chances. There’s got to be a smarter balance here, right?

Lessons for the Future

The Cardinals really need to rethink how they handle injuries going forward. They should spot when a player just can’t go and put him on the IL right away.

That way, the roster stays strong and competitive. We’ve all watched what happens when they wait too long—it’s not great.

• Put injured players on the IL quickly so the team doesn’t lose depth.
• Be upfront with veterans about what helps the team win in the long run.
• Give the bench and minor leaguers a shot to fill in while stars heal.

Every game really matters now, and the Cardinals can’t keep playing short-handed. Putting player health first isn’t just smart—it’s probably the only way they’ll still be playing in October instead of sitting at home.

 
Here is the source article for this story: The St. Louis Cardinals continue to mismanage the Injured List