Arenado exits after HBP, plans to play Friday

CLEVELAND -- Nolan Arenado came out of Wednesday’s matinee at Progressive Field shortly after he was plunked by a pitch from Cleveland starter Zach Plesac in the 7-2 loss, but the Cardinals hope to have him right back in the starting lineup on Friday against the Twins.

“Thankfully it looks like it got mostly meat,” manager Mike Shildt said. “The off-day [Thursday] will help. He’ll get treatment. He’s optimistic he’ll be back in there when we start playing Friday in St. Louis.”

Arenado was up to bat in the top of the fifth when he was struck in the right arm by Plesac’s 94.3 mph fastball. In obvious pain, Arenado jumped out of the box and bounded around in foul territory near the third-base line before being tended to by head athletic trainer Adam Olsen and Shildt. After several minutes of deliberation, Arenado stayed in the game to run the bases, but the Cards were unable to bring him home.

After coming out to the field briefly to warm up at third base before the bottom of the fifth, Arenado was replaced by Edmundo Sosa.

“Didn’t want to justify him going out and playing defense,” Shildt said.

Arenado has started all but three of the Cardinals’ 102 games this season. He has a .261/.318/.501 slash line with 20 homers, 27 doubles and 61 RBIs.