Baker will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth Wednesday versus the Brewers.
The 26-year-old should see an uptick in playing time over what remains of the 2023 regular season with Alec Burleson (thumb) joining Nolan Gorman (hamstring) on the injured list. Baker has gone 12-for-56 (.214) with 22 strikeouts through his first 22 games at the MLB level, but he was slashing .334/.440/.720 with 33 homers and 98 RBI in 84 games for Triple-A Memphis prior to being recalled in mid-August.
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Cardinals' Luken Baker: Belts first big-league homer
Rotowire
Baker went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Saturday in a loss to the Phillies.
Baker produced St. Louis' lone run of the contest with his solo shot off Zack Wheeler in the third inning. It was the 26-year-old's first major-league long ball, and there may be many more to come if his 33 homers over 84 games in the minors this season is any indication. Baker has played sparingly during his two call-ups to the big club, though he could start to see more opportunities down the stretch with the Cardinals sitting 12 games out of an NL wild-card spot.
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Cardinals' Luken Baker: Sitting versus lefty
Rotowire
Baker is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Pittsburgh, Bally Sports Midwest reports.
Baker has started just four of nine games since his recall and has now not been in the lineup three times in five contests versus southpaws over that time. The minor league's home run leader this season with 33 dingers, Baker has struggled during his few chances in the majors and the Cardinals don't seem terribly interested in giving him a longer look.
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Cardinals' Luken Baker: Recalled from Memphis
Rotowire
The Cardinals recalled Baker from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.
With Dylan Carlson (oblique) headed for the 10-day IL, Baker will come up from the minors to give St. Louis an additional bench bat. The 26-year-old first baseman is 5-for-19 in the majors this season and boasts a .334/.439/.720 slash line through 380 plate appearances in the minors.
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Cardinals' Luken Baker: Sent down Sunday
Rotowire
The Cardinals optioned Baker to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Baker hasn't appeared in a game since July 5. He will get regular at-bats again at Memphis, where he's crushed to the tune of a .319/.433/.664 slash line and 22 homers in 64 games this season. His path to playing time is complicated by his defensive limitations, though Baker figures to get another opportunity before the end of the season, perhaps shortly after the trade deadline.
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Cardinals' Luken Baker: Summoned from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cardinals recalled Baker from Triple-A Memphis on Monday. He'll serve as the Cardinals' designated hitter and No. 6 batter in Monday's series opener in Miami.
Baker was up with the Cardinals for a couple weeks last month but played sparingly, with most of his limited opportunities coming against left-handed pitching. St. Louis is slated to face a few southpaws this week, so he could see a handful of starts before the All-Star break.
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Cardinals' Luken Baker: Another start at DH
Rotowire
Baker is starting at designated hitter and batting fifth on Monday versus the Rangers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Baker collected two singles in his major-league debut Sunday in Pittsburgh and is back in there Monday against southpaw Martin Perez. Most of Baker's playing time could come versus lefties, although some DH at-bats could be had against righties, too, with Nolan Gorman playing more second base of late.
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Cardinals' Luken Baker: Heads to COVID-19 IL
Rotowire
Double-A Springfield placed Baker on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday.
Springfield is dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak among its roster, as six players were placed on the injured list Tuesday. The affiliate hasn't announced whether Baker's placement on the IL is the result of him testing positive for the coronavirus, or if he was merely identified as a close contact of an infected person or persons. Over 78 games with Springfield this season, Baker is slashing .247/.327/.545 with 23 home runs and 60 RBI.
