Cardinals All-Star second baseman Matt Carpenter was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, the result of the right oblique strain he suffered during a swing in the third inning of Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said he believed Carpenter's strain is of the Grade 2 type. He said two weeks off for Carpenter is an optimistic estimate.
"We're going to have to be careful with this," Matheny said. "This is one you can't push through. He's a tough player, and he's been given the sermon already, that if you try to push this thing, it could last a lot longer."
The silver lining, if there is one?
Rookie shortstop Aledmys Diaz landed on the All-Star team as a result.
"I'm always tying to look for positives," Matheny said. "I mentioned that to Carp even before Diaz knew. Not necessarily the goal. We would love to have him healthy still. But one of the benefits is the fact we will get Aledmys the kind of recognition he is due. And Matt still has the honor of being part of that All-Star team, which he deserves. It was nice being able to give that to Aledmys. He's very stoic and professional, but also very honored."
The Cardinals called up catcher Michael McKenry from Class AAA as their corresponding roster move, adding a third catcher to the clubhouse. But while Alberto Rosario replaced injured backup catcher Brayan Pena (knee) because of his defense, McKenry is here for his bat. The catcher _ he could also play some first base in a pinch _ slashed .341/.443/.683 in 82 Class AAA at-bats this season. He hit five homers, four triples and five doubles. One of those was a walk-off homer Wednesday night. McKenry, 31, has logged 308 games in the majors since 2010 and made stops with the Colorado Rockies and the Pirates.
"Talking with the Triple-A staff and also our development people about who would be the bat that would be as close to ready to help us as possible, and we had a couple of different options," Matheny said. "McKenry is a guy who has been here. Always having that potential for an emergency catcher is helpful, but I think you are going to see him more in the role of a guy coming off the bench looking to do some damage."
Carpenter's injury derailed one of the best starts a leadoff hitter has had. An MRI on Wednesday night determined the severity of the strain. Matheny said then he had a "high level of concern."
Matheny himself stressed to Carpenter the importance of not rushing a return from an oblique injury. The manager said an oblique issue caused his first stint on the DL during his playing days. Carpenter suffered a right oblique injury in 2012. He spent a month on the DL then.
Carpenter was the Cardinals' lone All-Star as of Tuesday's announcement of teams. National League manager Terry Collins could, but did not have to, fill Carpenter's roster spot with another Cardinal. Diaz found out Thursday that he got the nod.
"Right away we started trying to have conversations, one to let them know the likelihood last night of how this was going," Matheny said. "Then also an opportunity for us to put our plug in for Diaz. Especially on a team (the Mets) that hadn't seen him up close and personal, besides spring training, to see how good he's been ... There is some sort of obligation, being in that seat before, even though you already selected somebody, that the organization should have a representation."
Matheny said he thinks Carpenter will attend Tuesday's All-Star game in San Diego even though he can't play in it. He's still optimistic starter Carlos Martinez and reliever Seung Hwan Oh might join them at some point.
"Things like this happen," Matheny said of Carpenter. "You have to make the most out of it. Take advantage of the rest the rest of his body will get and plan on riding it hard the rest of the way afterward. Be ready to go when he gets back."
