Why is JJ Wetherholt out of the Cardinals' lineup again?

Wetherholt has revitalized the Cardinals since making his MLB debut earlier this season. The 23-year-old is slashing .249/.357/.400 with a .757 OPS, nine home runs and seven stolen bases.

Despite being drafted just two years ago with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Wetherholt has looked like a seasoned major leaguer during his rookie year.

He has performed so well that he is now the betting favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year on many sportsbooks.

The timing of the injury makes things even tougher for St. Louis because Wetherholt was beginning to heat up. Over his last 13 games, he is hitting .302/.362/.396 with one home run, two stolen bases, and seven runs scored.

After surprising many fans and analysts with their early success, the Cardinals have started to cool off. Following their series loss to the Rangers, St. Louis has gone just 5-10 over its last 15 games.

Offensive consistency has been an issue for St. Louis this season. The Cardinals rank 10th in the National League with a .240 team batting average and sit 11th with 257 runs scored.

The coming weeks could determine what St. Louis does ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. What was expected to be another rebuilding season has turned into a legitimate playoff push, with the Cardinals currently holding a National League wild-card spot by half a game.

If the Cardinals can get back on track, they could be buyers at the deadline. But if they continue to slide, the front office may look to move veterans and continue building around Wetherholt.