Breaking News: Paul Goldschmidt's Lineup Change Sparks Victory

Paul Goldschmidt 's Struggles and Lineup Change

ATLANTA - St. Louis Cardinals manager , Oliver Marmol , recently made the decision to move Paul Goldschmidt down in the lineup , a change that Goldschmidt himself acknowledged was due to his performance struggles . Goldschmidt , who went 0 for 8 with four strikeouts in a recent doubleheader , had not hit lower than third in four of his six seasons with the Cardinals . However , Marmol felt it was necessary to give Goldschmidt a different look and a breather to help him work through his struggles at the plate.

Immediate Impact and Movement Issues

The move paid off immediately , with Goldschmidt hitting a solo home run in his first at - bat from the No . 7 spot . Goldschmidt has been working on refining his swing mechanics , particularly his hand movement and hip rotation , to regain consistency and power at the plate . Marmol emphasized the importance of giving Goldschmidt a chance to reset and regain confidence in his approach.

Celebration Controversy and Misinterpretation

Following a win against Atlanta , the Cardinals ' celebratory hand gestures drew attention and speculation from the national media . Despite comparisons to political figures , including former President Donald Trump , the gestures were clarified by Matt Carpenter as a nod to a teammate 's nickname and not a political statement . The Cardinals emphasized that the celebrations were meant to be light - hearted and unrelated to any political connotations.

Successful Draft Picks and Injury Update

The Cardinals announced finalized deals with several draft picks , including third - round selection Brian Holiday and first - round pick JJ Wetherholt . Holiday signed below slot value , allowing the team flexibility in their draft budget . In unfortunate news for the Atlanta Braves , All - Star second baseman Ozzie Albies fractured his hand during a collision in a game against the Cardinals . Albies is expected to miss around eight weeks , adding to the Braves ' already significant injury list.

In other news , reliever Riley OBrien made a successful return to the mound for Class A Memphis after being sidelined with a flexor strain . Depending on his recovery , OBrien is set to make more appearances in the near future as he works his way back to full strength.