Cardinals will allow Scott II time to maximize his speed

MILWAUKEE — While playing time has the potential to slow considering for rookie Victor Scott II in the coming weeks, the Cardinals have an idea to use his time out of the current lineup to get up to speed on the ways his “elite” skill should propel future lineups.

“You can’t have him up here if there’s not a deliberate plan for development while he’s here,” manager Oliver Marmol said. “That’s a little bit of a waste, I would say.”

Scott, the Cardinals’ opening day center fielder when he dashed out of spring and into the lineup due to injuries ahead of him, spent the past month as the Cardinals’ starter again in center. The return Monday of Michael Siani from an oblique strain meant the Cardinals plan to start him “the bulk of the time” in center, displacing Scott for the time being into a part-time role. He’ll see innings as a defensive replacement like he did Monday in a 9-3 loss to the Brewers. He’ll be used as a pinch runner.

And he’ll have time for instruction before and during games that the Cardinals believe will unlock how he utilizes his speed on the bases and maximizes it in the field.

“The game is faster up here, so learning how to use my speed best to impact a certain situation is the goal,” Scott said. “It’s just learning and continuing to develop on that side of the ball, too. Gives me a chance to focus on those little things.”

In his second run with the Cardinals this season, Scott showed improvement at the plate. He hit .085 in 20 games to start the year in the majors and then returned from Class AAA during Siani’s absence to bat .233 with .656 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in August. What was lacking at times from his game was what made him a standout prospect a year ago in his first full season as a pro. Scott stole 94 bases to tie for the minor league lead, and he spoke candidly and openly about aiming for a 100-steal season.

He’s been more conservative in the majors with five steals in five attempts. On Sunday, he hesitated when given a chance to advance to second while a teammate was in a rundown, and he did not attempt to steal second when he had a favorable chance that same inning.

“When you take a base down there (in the minors), the value of an out isn’t the same, so you take more chances and more risk, even if it’s not the right time or opportunity to do it,” Marmol said . “He’s starting to figure out, if I’m hitting down here (at No. 9) then the top of the lineup is now up. So when do I go, when do I not, when do I risk it? Can I just outrun the game up here? There are different variables to it because making an out up here is meaningful. Down there, it’s a learning experience. It’s a different game.”

The Cardinals want Scott to steal more, and while he’s playing less, there will be time he spends with base-running coach Ron “Pop” Warner on how to spot more chances to steal. That will include studying pitchers, decoding their habits and also discussing situations throughout games, including a few times when it’s a situation he must go.

On Monday at American Family Field, Scott also did his usual round of drills in the outfield with coach Willie McGee as the Cardinals and their young outfielder seek to improve his read and reactions to baseballs. Scott has among the best sprint speed in the majors, and that allows him to close quickly on a ball like a defensive back and rob hits as he did at a pivotal play near the wall Sunday.

A goal while he’s in the majors is to keep him working with the coaches there on first steps, directions and routes because “the closing speed is incredible,” Marmol said, “and now we’ll have a really elite defender.”

That will allow him to eventually run away with starts.

“It’s continuing to learn the game,” Scott said, “and how to impact it at this level.”

In his office Sunday, Marmol stressed that the principle guiding any decision the Cardinals faced with their starters in the coming week would be “protecting and preserving the rotation.”

On Monday, he showed how.

The Cardinals will turn to lefty Steven Matz to start Tuesday’s game against the Brewers — not just because he’s healthy and recently back from a monthlong rehab assignment but because it allows for an extra day of rest for right-hander Erick Fedde. That, Marmol said, was the goal as Fedde has already pitched a career-high number of innings in the majors, and his next start — his 28th of the season — will set a new career high in the majors for the right-hander.

“Protection of the rotation is my No. 1 filter,” Marmol said. “I meant it. Really wanted to give Fedde the extra day.”

The Cardinals will conclude the series in Milwaukee with Sonny Gray starting Wednesday, and that sets up Fedde to start Friday against Seattle at Busch Stadium.

Matz last appeared in the majors at the end of April and has been recovering from a herniated disc and back strain ever since. He made six starts for Class AAA Memphis on an extended rehab assignment meant to replicate spring training. The lefty warmed up at Yankee Stadium on Sunday for a possible mid-game assignment if the Cardinals got a clean inning. When they did not, Matz sat, and Marmol sought the chance to get Fedde the added rest.

In six starts this season for the Cardinals, Matz was 1-2 with a 6.18 ERA and 17 strikeouts with 37 hits allowed in 27⅔ innings.

“He’s not a comfortable at-bat,” Marmol said, “so I’m excited to see him back out there.”

By the start of a homestand this weekend against the Mariners, the Cardinals will decide what veteran right-hander Lance Lynn will do between starts before returning to the rotation. Lynn could simulate a game at Busch Stadium against teammates, throw an extensive and aggressive bullpen similar to what he would do in spring training, or some other option that will best prepare him for his start being the majors.

Lynn struck out eight of 20 batters faced and reached 80 pitches (54 strikes) in his rehab appearance Sunday with Class AAA Memphis. He allowed five runs on seven hits.

The right-hander had no issues recovering Monday from the lengthy outing and after several scheduled days of rest will begin preparing for a big league start that could come early next week.

Since the Cardinals joined the National League in 1892, they’re 91-107-3 on Labor Day. The last time they faced Milwaukee on the September holiday was in 2011, when they lost, though a month later ousted the same Brewers from the NLCS.

• Before allowing a grand slam Monday to Milwaukee rookie Jackson Chourio, the Cardinals were tied with the Detroit for the fewest grand slams allowed this season. They each had allowed one.
• Paul Goldschmidt has doubled in a career-best five consecutive games.