PITTSBURGH — Cardinals Nation must have been aghast when manager Oliver Marmol posted his lineup for Sunday’s finale of a series the Cardinals had a chance to sweep.
Paul Goldschmidt, second in the National League in hitting at .342 and riding a hitting streak of 14 games, wasn’t in it at all. Platinum Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado didn’t play in the field but was the designated hitter. Even Albert Pujols, the best hitter in the history of PNC Park, wasn’t in the lineup.
Only one of the five reigning Cardinals Gold Glovers was in his normal position, center fielder Harrison Bader. And to further accentuate the seemingly makeshift lineup was the fact that right-hander Angel Rondon, wasn’t on the club officially until an hour before game time. Rondon was in the game after four pitches when starter Steven Matz couldn’t shake left shoulder stiffness.
