Paul DeJong’s injury is another test for the St. Louis Cardinals

Paul DeJong’s injury is another test for the St. Louis Cardinals, who have dealt with injuries for the majority of the regular season.

If there is one common theme surrounding the St. Louis Cardinals’ season, it’s that they’ve dealt with injuries. A lot of them.

But really, it’s the same story for the other 29 teams. Who is left standing toward the end of the year will come down to who can withstand those injuries the best. So far, the Cardinals have passed that test with flying colors, starting the season 22-15 and leading the National League Central by two games.

Yet again, they were tested, as shortstop Paul DeJong left Wednesday night’s game after feeling something “grab” in his left side, manager Mike Shildt told reporters (including Katie Woo of The Athletic), though he added the area of concern is near where DeJong was hit by a pitch.

DeJong is out of the Cardinals lineup and will undergo an MRI on Thursday morning to determine the severity of the injury. There is no signs yet that he will need a stint on the injured list, losing him would be a blow as he has hit seven home runs in 35 games, though he’s hitting just .177 (22-for-124) this season.

DeJong has only been on the injured list once in his career and missed time last season after testing positive for COVID-19. Losing him for any extended period of time would be a blow, though he showed no clear signs of discomfort before leaving Wednesday’s game, so perhaps that is a reason for optimism.

But the Cardinals will have to wait for MRI results before determining whether he needs a stint on the IL. If he does, they have proven that they have the talent and depth to withstand injuries. DeJong is just another test in what will be a season of the survival of the fittest.