St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar homered in his first game of 2024, a two-run shot in the third inning of Friday's 9-6 win over the Diamondbacks. It was his only hit of the contest though, going 1-for-4 with a walk, two RBI, and a run scored. Nootbaar had been dealing with a rib injury, but now that he's back he can provide fantasy managers with a significant run boost, also adding a little pop and a little speed. Last season the lefty hitter belted 14 home runs, stole 11 bases, and came across the plate 74 times in 117 games. The 26-year-old also has a keen eye at the plate with a career 14.0% BB%. He's rostered in just 41% of Yahoo leagues, so he'll probably become a popular waiver wire add.

The St. Louis Cardinals activated outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) from the 10-day injured list on Thursday and optioned catcher Pedro Pages to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. Nootbaar is recovered from two non-displaced fractures in his left rib cage and will make his 2024 debut on Friday on the road in Arizona against the Diamondbacks. The 26-year-old didn't swing the bat well on his minor-league rehab assignment, but the only takeaway is that he's healthy now and ready to play every day for the Cardinals in left field, especially with Tommy Edman (wrist) and Dylan Carlson (shoulder) still sidelined. In the last two years, Nootbaar has hit 28 home runs and stolen 15 bases in just 225 games played, making him worth a waiver-wire pickup in mixed fantasy leagues for his power/speed combination if he's available.

If St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol continues to feel that outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) is pointed in the right direction, he could be activated from the injured list on Friday and make his season debut in Arizona against the Diamondbacks on Saturday. Nootbaar could be playing in his final minor-league rehab game on Wednesday with Double-A Springfield if he comes out of that contest feeling good. The 26-year-old is recovering from two non-displaced rib fractures that forced him to open the season on the injured list, but he's surely worth a waiver-wire pickup if he's available in mixed fantasy leagues because of his power-speed combination. When healthy, Nootbaar is going to play regularly for the Cardinals, especially with Tommy Edman (wrist) and Dylan Carlson (shoulder) still sidelined.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) will not come off the injured list on Monday and will return to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday to get in more at-bats in the minors. Nootbaar took batting practice on Monday at Busch Stadium and is trying to regain his timing at the plate after being out since early March with rib fractures. The 26-year-old left-handed swinger has gone 3-for-17 in five minor-league contests as he ramps up and would like some more at-bats before he makes his big-league debut for the Cardinals. Once he's activated from the injured list, rookie Victor Scott II could be sent back to the farm after going 3-for-36 (.083) with a stolen base, two walks and 11 strikeouts in his first 39 major-league plate appearances.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday. The left-handed outfielder will draw the start in center field for Tuesday's game with Triple-A Memphis. The 26-year-old is working his way back from two fractures in his ribcage that has sidelined him since early March. The expectation is that Nootbaar is going to need at least a handful of games before returning to the Cardinals lineup. It's uncertain who will get sent down in a corresponding move, but it'll likely be youngster Victor Scott.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) will likely begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday. He had four at-bats and got five innings of work in a simulated game in Florida. The 26-year-old is eligible to come off the injured list on Thursday. He had two non-displaced fractures in his left ribcage in spring training and has been sidelined since early March. He slashed .261/.367/.418 with 14 home runs, 46 RBI, 74 runs, and 11 stolen bases over 503 plate appearances in 2023. Barring any setbacks, Nootbaar is trending in the right direction and could be activated from the injured list next week. Nootbaar is expected to be the team's everyday left fielder when he returns, and fantasy managers searching for outfield help can look to add him in all league formats.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) is expected to hit against right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) in a simulated game on Friday. Nootbaar was forced to open the regular season on the injured list due to two non-displaced fractured in his left rib cage, but he's advancing to facing live pitching and could return to the team as early as April 4 as long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks. The Cardinals could use him back, too, with Tommy Edman (wrist) and Dylan Carlson (shoulder) also opening the year on the IL. Thumb, back and abdominal issues sent the 26-year-old to the IL three separate times last year, too, but he still managed to match his career-high with 14 home runs while also stealing a career-high 11 bases in 117 games. If Nootbaar can ever put injuries behind him, he'll be an intriguing everyday power/speed guy for the Cards.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (rib) took soft-toss swings on Sunday and Monday in camp without ill effects from the rib fractures on his left side. Nootbaar is slated to be the team's regular in left field in 2024, but he is going to open the 2024 regular season on the 10-day injured list due to his injury. "Nootbaar swung [Sunday] and [Monday], and I was able to see video of his swings today and it looked really good. His body is responding well," manager Oliver Marmol said. The 26-year-old outfielder's health is of even more importance now that Dylan Carlson (shoulder) got hurt on Monday. Tommy Edman (wrist) is also opening the season on the IL. If Nootbaar can ever avoid injuries once and for all in 2024, he could be a breakout candidate because of his power/speed profile.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) is going to open the regular season on the injured list. This was expected, but Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol confirmed the news on Friday. The left-handed slugger continues working his way back from fractures in his ribcage. At the moment, it looks like Alec Burleson is the favorite to handle left field in the absence of Nootbaar. Burleson doesn't hold a ton of value, but could be a possible deep league option or maybe worth a shot in NL-only formats.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) is making progress from his rib fractures. "He feels better every day. He still feels (the ribs) a little bit, but he's progressing. He was able to do some rotational stuff (on Wednesday) and we'll see what the next 4-5 days look like," Marmol said. The 26-year-old still doesn't have a timetable for when he might return to spring training games, though, and it's more likely than not that he'll open the 2024 regular season on the injured list. Injuries also put a damper on his 2023 campaign, but when he was healthy, Nootbaar was impressive with the bat, clubbing 14 home runs and stealing 11 bases in 117 games. He should be a regular when healthy and has some intriguing power/speed upside for fantasy managers as a late-round flier.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar has suffered two nondisplaced fractures in his ribs on the left side. It was reported yesterday that Nootbaar was going to go in for testing for a torso injury which will now take 10-14 days while his swings in that time will depend on pain tolerance. The 26-year-old was injured attempting to field a fly ball on Saturday, getting twisted up and falling to the ground. He was enjoying a nice start to his spring as he is 4-for-9 with two walks and a stolen base across 11 plate appearances in Cactus League action. He was projected by ATC to hit 18 home runs and steal nine bases across 123 games but his status for Opening Day is unsure. He remains a solid option in the outfield with a 203.2 ADP.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is dealing with a rib and abdomen injury after getting hurt attempting to field a fly ball on Saturday. He hasn't appeared in any Cactus League action since and will go in for testing to try and find the cause of his lingering soreness. The 26-year-old is 4-for-9 with two walks, a stolen base, and just one strikeout across 11 plate appearances. Nootbaar is coming off a solid season that saw him hit .261 with 14 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and a .785 OPS across 117 games on the season. He hasn't played in more than those 117 games in his career but ATC is projecting 123 games from him in 2024 with 18 home runs and nine stolen bases in that time. He is a solid value with an ADP of 203.2 this spring.

In his first season with a projected starting role in 2024, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar retooled his swing in the offseason with the help of Nolan Arenado after a disappointing 2023 campaign that saw him miss round 40 games due to injuries. Nootbaar revamped his swing mechanics in hopes of adding more power. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter clubbed 14 homers with a .418 slugging percentage in 426 at-bats in 2023, but there could be more power in his lumber. Nootbaar has always had great plate discipline, but he wanted to work on his lower half while also being able to lift more balls in the air to his pull side. Nootbaar's hands are now lower off his shoulders, which will allow him to create a more vertical swing path. Even if Nootbaar's average suffers as a result, it should lead to more backspin and balls clearing the fences. His power/speed combination makes him an intriguing fourth or fifth fantasy outfielder with upside.

The St. Louis Cardinals activated outfielder Lars Nootbaar (groin) from the 10-day injured list on Friday. Nootbaar is right back in the fold on Friday, starting in center field and hitting leadoff against the Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Mitch Keller. The 25-year-old landed on the injured list on Aug. 17 after fouling a pitch off his groin, but he's back now and ready to serve as the team's regular center fielder to close out what has been a really disappointing season for the Cards. The 25-year-old has been a bright spot for St. Louis when he's been on the field, though, slashing .283/.382/.453 with an .835 OPS, 12 home runs, 39 RBI, eight stolen bases and 60 runs scored in 90 games played in just his third MLB season.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley (forearm) and outfielder Lars Nootbaar (groin) are expected to be activated from the injured list by Friday when major-league rosters expand, according to manager Oliver Marmol. Helsley, who hasn't pitched in the majors since June 7, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session at Busch Stadium on Wednesday. Don't be surprised if the Cards ease the 29-year-old Helsley back into the closer's role after a long layoff from a right-forearm strain. JoJo Romero has been the team's primary closer of late with Helsley out of commission. Nootbaar is starting a minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday and should be back with the team this weekend. When the 25-year-old is back, he'll likely return to starting center-field duties in St. Louis.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (groin), who has been out since Aug. 16 after fouling a ball off his groin, has progressed to the point that he will work out with the Cardinals for a second straight day on Tuesday before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. Barring a setback in minor-league action, Nootbaar could return from the 10-day injured list by Friday. Thumb, back and groin injuries have limited him to 90 games in 2023, and he's hit .283 with 12 home runs, 39 RBI and an .835 OPS. In the second half, Nootbaar has been great, hitting .330 with seven long balls, 14 RBI and a 1.027 OPS in 30 games, so fantasy managers in deeper leagues will be hoping he can pick up where he left off if he returns this weekend.

The St. Louis Cardinals placed outfielder Lars Nootbaar (abdomen) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a lower-abdomen contusion, according to the team. The Cardinals promoted top prospect Masyn Winn from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. Nootbaar fouled a ball off his groin on Wednesday night and had to make a trip to the hospital. Hopefully the 25-year-old will only miss the minimum time on the injured list after feeling better on Thursday. Nootbaar has provided a solid mix of power and speed for fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues while also hitting for a solid average of .283 (93-for-329) in his third year in the majors. He's currently sitting at 12 home runs (two shy of his career-high), 18 doubles, a triple, 39 RBI, eight stolen bases and 60 runs scored in 90 games.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (groin) said he was feeling much better on Thursday after leaving Wednesday's game against the Oakland Athletics early with a groin contusion. Nootbaar went to the emergency room Wednesday night for testing after fouling a ball off his groin and is hopeful he can return to the lineup in a matter of days. Tommy Edman (calf) is starting in center field and batting leadoff on Thursday against New York Mets left-hander Jose Quintana. Nootbaar may have been out of the lineup anyway on Thursday against a left-hander. He has just one of his 12 homers this year against southpaws in 92 plate appearances. Overall, he's been pretty solid for St. Louis, hitting .283 (93-for-329) with 12 homers, 39 RBI, eight stolen bases and 60 runs scored. Check back to see if he's in the lineup on Friday against the Mets.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (groin) was forced to exit early during Wednesday's game against the Oakland Athletics. He was replaced in the fifth inning after fouling a ball off his groin area. Tommy Edman took over in center field after Nootbaar exited the game. However, Edman was also forced to leave the game due to a leg injury. The 28-year-old fouled a ball off his leg and exited the ballgame. The assumption is that both players are considered as day-to-day. Fantasy managers will have to check back for more updates.