Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras suffered a forearm fracture during Tuesday's game against the Mets, sidelining him for an extended period.
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras will miss 6-8 weeks due to a forearm fracture sustained during Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the New York Mets.
The injury occurred in the second inning when Contreras was hit by a foul tip off the bat of Mets outfielder Mark Canha. Contreras immediately grabbed his forearm and exited the game.
X-rays later confirmed the fracture, which will require surgery to repair. Contreras is expected to undergo surgery on Wednesday.
The Cardinals are already struggling with an offense that ranks near the bottom of the league in several key categories, including runs scored and batting average.
Contreras' absence will be a significant blow to the Cardinals' offense, as he is one of their most productive hitters. He is batting .290 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 50 games this season.
The Cardinals will likely call up catcher Ivan Herrera from Triple-A Memphis to replace Contreras on the roster. Herrera is batting .290 with four home runs and 19 RBIs in 43 games in Memphis this season.
The Cardinals are hoping Contreras will be able to return to the lineup by the end of July. However, if his recovery takes longer than expected, the Cardinals could be forced to make a trade for a catcher.
The Cardinals are currently 20-30 this season, which is tied for the worst record in the National League. They are six games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the final Wild Card spot.
The Cardinals will open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday at Wrigley Field.
