Call it a coincidence or a freaky statistic, but it’s hard to deny the numbers: The St. Louis Cardinals fare much better when Kolten Wong starts games (24-19) than when the Hilo native doesn’t (9-20).
Call it a coincidence or a freaky statistic, but it’s hard to deny the numbers: The St. Louis Cardinals fare much better when Kolten Wong starts games (24-19) than when the Hilo native doesn’t (9-20).
The Wong-less losing trend continued Friday for the Cardinals, who lost at home 4-3 to Pittsburgh for their fourth loss in six games. Earlier in the day, Wong told MLB.com he hopes to rejoin St. Louis in the week leading up to the All-Star break.
The second baseman has been stranded on the 10-day disabled list, for the second time this season, with a right triceps strain since June 15, swinging and throwing at Busch Stadium when the team was on the road. He could begin a rehab assignment in about a week.
“I’m pretty close,” he said on MLB.com. “I feel good. I feel strong. We’re just trying to make sure there’s no pain. I tried to come back quick the last time, and (that) got me back on the DL. So I told them, and they kind of told me, that this time we’re going to make sure everything’s cleared (and that) there’s no pain when you come back so you’re ready to go and be ready for the next half of the season.”
The 2008 Kamehameha graduate first was placed on the DL with left elbow tightness at the end of May, and he came back to the Cardinals despite feeling right forearm discomfort, playing in six games and raising his average to .301.
“From what I’m feeling now and all the tests I’ve been doing, I’m stronger than what I was before I got hurt,” Wong said. “It’s good right now where I am, and I think there’s no real reason to wait. If I can come back and get in a couple series before the All-Star break, that would be huge.”
If all goes well, Wong will go on a rehab assignment while the Cardinals are in Arizona next week or when they return to St. Louis for a 10-game homestand leading up to the break.
Paul DeJong has filled in admirably for Wong, homering in four of his past seven games. Wong, fifth in the fan All-Star voting at second base in the National League, has just one home run this season.
Of course, if the numbers are to be believed, his importance to the Cardinals is understated.