The St. Louis Cardinals will be without one of their best postseason hitters for at least the NLDS.
All-Star first baseman Allen Craig, who hasn’t played since Sept. 4, isn’t ready to return to the lineup and may not be available until the World Series, if the Cardinals advance that far, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. The 29-year-old is battling through a lisfranc injury, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Matt Adams is expected to continue filling in for Craig at first base when the postseason begins. He’s given the Cardinals a power bat in the lineup this season with a .288 batting average, 17 home runs and 51 RBIs over 106 games.
Even though Adams is capable of providing consistent run production until Craig is healthy enough to return, he lacks playoff experience. Craig has played in 28 postseason games and was a key contributor on St. Louis’ World Series-winning team in 2011.
The Cardinals currently lead the NL Central by three games over the Pittsburgh Pirates. They can clinch the division title with one more win or a Pirates loss over the final weekend of the regular season.
Follow @NickGossNESN
