St. Louis Cardinals' Carlos Beltran back in the lineup after recovery – NLCS News
Days after he had a left knee strain, Carlos Beltran seems to have fully recovered as he appeared in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, October 21. There were some concerns about his fitness earlier, but manager Mike Matheny is confident Beltran has complete fitness and form to play.
"We were concerned we wouldn't have him [for Game 5], and it took down right at the last minute before we got him in that last game," Matheny said. "But he came out, and the first at-bat [he] gets a base hit and then steals a base, pretty indicative of how he's feeling.”
The strain affected the player in the Game 3 of the National League Championship Series as the Cardinals were taking on the San Francisco Giants. It was Matt Carpenter who replaced the experienced player there and then.
Allen Craig was brought in Game 4 as the player took another day to fully recover and be the part of the line-up. Game 5, like the manager alluded to, was being looked forward to because Beltran constitutes an important part of the 25-man roster with his over 100 post-season games experience.
Manager Mike Matheny hopes Beltran is getting better now as he said, “[He] seems to be getting better. I salute him and our medical staff for getting really ahead of this, and hopefully we'll be able to keep riding this out and it doesn't flare up again."
Beltran’s appearance in Sunday’s Game 6 was at Number three after Matt Holliday had to exit due to lower back discomfort. With the change that had to be made, Beltran appears to have additional responsibility on his shoulders.
The fact that he could do what was expected of him in Game 5, wherein he singled and stole a base, showed Beltran is one of the most prolific hitters out there in the Cardinals' offence.
With the National League Championship Series becoming ever competitive, as the Cards and the San Francisco Giants vie to make it to the World Series, it is Beltran who will have all eyes on him to keep the offence intact.
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