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Cardinals' Arenado Scratched from Lineup Monday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jayden Pettus | Last updated Apr 7, 2025 7:44 PM ET

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado is reportedly dealing with an illness, prompting manager Oliver Marmol to scratch the 33-year-old from Monday's lineup.

Currently on a 15-game hitting streak, Arenado was originally slated to start at third in the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates but was replaced by Thomas Saggese about an hour prior to first pitch.

Marmol noted Arenado is dealing with general soreness on top of the illness, aiding in the decision to take him out of the lineup.

The #STLCards have scratched third baseman Nolan Arenado because of an illness and general soreness for tonight’s game.

Thomas Saggese will start at 3B in a reconfigured lineup.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 7, 2025

The eight-time MLB All-Star has played in all nine games this season - including both games of Sunday's doubleheader - but was subbed out for Saggese in the bottom sixth of game two after going 1-for-2.

Saggese, who was called up last week following Nolan Gorman being placed on the 10-day IL, smacked a three-run home run over the green monster in the ninth inning after replacing Arenado - the second of his young MLB career.

The home run was the hardest and furthest hit ball of Saggese's career, being clocked at 109 mph and measured at 430 feet.

With Arenado out, the Cardinals are looking to give Saggese some more experience at the MLB level while they have the roster space for the 22-year-old.

The team may want to begin exploring ways to manage Arenado's load early on in the season, so soreness isn't an overarching factor in the outcome of the third baseman's year.

With Ivan Herrera and Gorman on IL - and Arenado now out with sickness - the team's injuries may start to become a factor early on in the season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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