Matt Carpenter DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Matt Carpenter (back) was responsible for his team's only runs of Tuesday's ballgame, as the Cards lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2. Carpenter came on as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, hitting a clutch two-run homer off Nick Mears. This was Carpenter's first game back after being activated off the 10-day injured list. Carpenter, who spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Cardinals before leaving and then returning, will hope to provide an offensive boost to the team's lineup down the stretch.

The St. Louis Cardinals added designated hitter Matt Carpenter (lower back strain), and first baseman/designated hitter Luken Baker to the roster on Tuesday. Carpenter was on the injured list, while Baker was recalled from Triple-A Rochester. Carpenter is hitting .255/.331/.382 with three homers, 11 RBI, and 13 runs scored, while Baker was hitting .231/.345/.535 with 32 homers, 71 RBI, and 54 runs scored with Rochester. While Carpenter won't have much fantasy value, Baker's power makes him a very intriguing waiver-wire addition, especially in deeper league formats.

The St. Louis Cardinals placed designated hitter Matt Carpenter (back) on the 10-day injured list with a lower back strain ahead of Monday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Carpenter hasn't played much recently, as he has started just one game since July 31. The veteran has been used primarily as a DH this season, which has limited his at-bats in 2024. The 38-year-old is batting just .255 with three home runs, five doubles, and 11 RBI across 42 games this year. In his place, outfielder Jordan Walker will take his place on the active roster.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman/designated hitter Matt Carpenter (oblique) will serve as the DH for Triple-A Memphis on Friday on his minor-league rehab assignment, and he said if everything goes well, he will join the Cardinals in Milwaukee on Saturday for their weekend series against the division-rival Brewers. In five rehab games on the farm, the 38-year-old veteran left-handed hitter has gone 4-for-17 with two home runs, so he appears to be swinging the bat well. He has been sidelined since early April with a right-oblique strain. When he's back in St. Louis, he's merely going to be a lefty bat off the bench who can occasional start as the DH against right-handed pitching. The three-time All-Star should only be rostered in deep NL-only fantasy leagues.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman/designated hitter Matt Carpenter (oblique) is moving his minor-league rehab assignment to Triple-A Memphis, according to manager Oliver Marmol. Memphis was off on Monday and will return to action on Tuesday. In two games with Double-A Springfield over the weekend, Carpenter went 1-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored. The 38-year-old veteran has been on the injured list since April 2 with a right-oblique strain. The three-time All-Star is getting close to a return to the major-league lineup, but he offers virtually zero upside for those playing fantasy after slashing .176/.322/.319 with five home runs and 31 RBI in 76 games last year with the San Diego Padres. At best, he'll be an option at DH for the Cardinals against right-handed pitching when he returns.