By Chris Brown – STL Baseball Today
Less than four months after surgery to repair a torn quad and the diagnoses that he’d likely be sidelined for the rest of the 2015 season, Matt Adams is back in the Cardinals starting lineup on Tuesday, batting 5th against the Brewers in Milwaukee.
It will be the first start since May 26 for the first baseman, who made three pinch-hit appearances for the Cardinals over the weekend, collecting two hits, including a long two-run home run on Sunday.
The 27-year-old often referred to by fans as ‘Big City’ told Cardinals broadcaster Dan McLaughlin that his biggest motivation towards returning was to prove his skeptics wrong. Although Adams said he’s no longer dealing with any physical limitations, manager Mike Matheny indicated early Tuesday afternoon on MLB Network Radio that he likely won’t stay in for the full game in his return as the team eases the slugger back into action.
Adams is hitting .252 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 46 games this season.
HOLLIDAY ACTIVATED
Adams’ return to the starting lineup wasn’t the only good news for the Cardinals on Tuesday, as the club activated outfielder Matt Holliday from the disabled list prior to their series opener in Milwaukee.
[Related: Matt Holliday activated from DL in return from second quad strain this season]
Holliday, who is not in Tuesday’s starting lineup, missed 41 games since hitting the disabled list in late July with his second right quad strain this season.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Holliday went through a series of baserunning drills on Tuesday afternoon under the watchful eye of head athletic trainer Greg Hauck to prove he was ready to go. General manager John Mozeliak said earlier this week that the 35-year-old would be a full-time player upon his return.
Elected as a starter in the All-Star Game for the first time in his career this season, Holliday is batting .290 with 4 home runs, 13 doubles, and 31 RBI in 63 games.
9/15 STARTING LINEUPS
The redbirds will send Carlos Martinez to the mound in search of his 14th win this year. Martinez will be opposed by 26-year-old right-hander Ariel Peña, who’s making just the second start of his big league career.
9/15 #STLCards lineup at MIL:
Carpenter 3B
Piscotty LF
Heyward RF
Peralta SS
Adams 1B
Molina C
Jay CF
Wong 2B
Martinez SP— STL Baseball Today (@STLBBToday) September 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/mlblineups/status/643896415379263489
Following the Pirates’ 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs in game one of their day-night doubleheader, the Cardinals lead in the NL Central is down to just two games headed into play Tuesday night.
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Feature image used under Creative Commons by Keith Allison. No changes made. Image license.
