How Kolten Wong likely going on IL impacts Cardinals, Brewers

The Brewers are likely to be without Kolten Wong, as the prized second baseman will head to the IL with an oblique injury.

Kolten Wong stood at the plate at Busch Stadium and began to cry. Moments earlier, he had been addressed by the in-game announcer and received a standing ovation from St. Louis Cardinals fans for the first time since signing with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The plate appearance ended in a four pitch walk, but his day did not last long. He aggravated an oblique injury swinging in his next at-bat and was removed from the game. Brewers manager Craig Counsell said after the game, via Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, that there is a very real chance that Wong is placed on the Injured List.

It is not how Wong or either franchise envisioned his return to St. Louis. But it’s a huge loss for the Brewers if he indeed goes on the Injured List, considering their plans for him this season. They believed Wong would immensely improve their infield defense over Keston Hiura, who moved to first base, and make their self-proclaimed run-prevention unit one of baseball’s best.

Instead, the Brewers will be forced to replace Wong when he eventually is placed on the IL. They could move Daniel Roberston to second base. They could slide Hiura to second and put Daniel Vogelbach at first. They could put the newly signed Dee Strange-Gordon at second. Their options are many, but the loss of Wong significantly impacts how they want to construct their lineup moving forward.

Which helps the Cardinals, considering there are two games left in the series and that the Brewers are their stiffest competition in the National League Central. It is highly unlikely Wong makes the defensive mistake that Daniel Robertson made in the seventh inning that allowed the Cardinals to tie the game at 1.

But watching Wong leave due to injury, especially on a day that meant so much to him and the Cardinals organization, was the last thing either side wanted to see. Now, the Brewers await results on just how long they will be without their prized second baseman.