St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado in lineup after back injury scare

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/23/21

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt wasn't panicking after third baseman Nolan Arenado prematurely left Wednesday's 10-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers with lower back tightness.

It seems the six-time All-Star is doing just fine ahead of the weekend.

Arenado was in the lineup for the Thursday afternoon matchup against Milwaukee.

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The Cardinals began Thursday winners of 11 straight contests and holding a four-and-a-half game lead for the second National League wild-card playoff berth over the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, so it would've been understandable had Shildt sat Arenado for at least one day.

Arenado exited Wednesday's contest batting .258 with 33 home runs. Per ESPN stats, he started Thursday's action tied for eighth in all of MLB with 103 RBI on the campaign.

"It tightened up on him a little bit, and just wanted to get him out of there as a precaution," Shildt said of Arenado's back Wednesday night. "There's always some concern, but it felt better at the end of the game than it did when he got taken out."

Arenado should receive some days off next week assuming the Cardinals clinch a playoff spot ahead of the regular-season finale on Oct. 3.

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