Carpenter lands on DL

Carpenter lands on DL

Replaced by Diaz in All- Star Game

MLB.com ST. LOUIS — Already skidding toward the All-Star break with lackluster play, the Cardinals now find themselves looking at the reality of entering the second half without their biggest offensive catalyst.

What had already been an unforgiving week provided its biggest punch on Wednesday night when the Cardinals watched Matt Carpenter clutch his right side after an unsuccessful attempt to check a thirdinning swing. He was diagnosed with an oblique strain while the Cardinals wrapped up a 7-5 loss to the Pirates and was sent off for an MRI exam that determined that he would need to be placed on the 15-day disabled list.

'I have a high level of concern,' manager Mike Matheny said on Wednesday after his team lost its third straight against Pittsburgh but before Carpenter's MRI.

'I've felt that injury, and I've seen it. It can be tough.'

Carpenter had a right oblique injury in 2012 and spent a month on the DL.

However, the recovery time for these injuries can vary significantly.

'I've had a few of those oblique injuries, and they're not fun, man,' said Kolten Wong, who replaced Carpenter at second base on Wednesday.

'We hope that's not the severity that Carp is in.

You just hope and pray that everything turns out all right.'

Carpenter is the fourth Cardinals player to go on the DL in the past week.

The run of injuries began last week when setup man Kevin Siegrist was diagnosed with mononucleosis. Since then, he's been joined by first baseman Brandon Moss (left ankle sprain) and catcher Brayan Pena (left knee inflammation). Third baseman Jhonny Peralta is also nursing a sore left thumb, though he's confident he can return in a few days.

Carpenter, who was named to the National League All-Star team on Tuesday, worked a 3-1 count against Jeff Locke in the third inning before checking his swing on a changeup. He was immediately tended to by athletic trainer Adam Olsen and showed little resistance in being taken out of the game.

Carpenter was replaced by Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz for Tuesday's All-Star Game presented by MasterCard.

It was to be Carpenter's third All-Star Game. He had been the lone Cardinals player selected for the NL squad.

More significant, however, is how long the Cardinals will be without Carpenter, who had been the team's best offensive performer over the first half. As a leadoff hitter, Carpenter entered the day leading the NL with a .421 on-base percentage and a .991 OPS. He also ranks among the league's top six in doubles (25), extra-base hits (44), walks (58), triples (five), runs (56) and slugging percentage (.570). Carpenter has started 76 of the team's 84 games this year.

'We want every guy in there, but injuries happen, and when they do, we wish them well to get back as fast as they can,' Matheny said. 'But if we sit there and overanalyze the fact that this guy plays this particular role for our club and somebody tells us it's a shot we can't recover from. It's simply not true.

Somebody's got to step up.'

By Jenifer Langosch