Cardinals put Carpenter on IL with lower back strain

SEATTLE (AP) - St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained lower back.

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said Carpenter was extremely ill over the weekend, taking three bags of intravenous fluids Sunday, and tweaked his back while laid up. The IL move is retroactive to June 29.

Shildt said this is not a long-term injury and that Carpenter could have been rushed back into the lineup for the San Francisco series this weekend. But the team decided to allow him to recuperate and gain back the weight he lost while sick.

Yairo Munoz got the start at third base and was St. Louis’ leadoff hitter against the Mariners on Tuesday in Seattle. The Cardinals could have used Carpenter’s bat against Seattle. He’s a career .417 hitter against the Mariners and is the No. 11 active player in interleague batting average at .315.

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