Overview

• Contreras was struck on the left hand by a Paul Skenes fastball in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s 1-0 loss and exited for X-rays.
• Team officials diagnosed a contusion with no fracture and labeled him day-to-day, making him doubtful to play Wednesday’s finale.
• The injury marks Contreras’s 14th hit-by-pitch of the season, tying him for the Major League lead and renewing safety concerns.
• His .248 average, 11 home runs and 51 RBIs in 82 games underline the impact of any extended absence on the Cardinals’ offense.
• First baseman Alec Burleson and outfielder Garrett Hampson entered the game in relief, highlighting St. Louis’s reliance on depth before the upcoming Chicago series.