ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader was a late scratch from Wednesday’s series finale against the Royals after experiencing a severe migraine on Tuesday night, manager Mike Shildt said. With nausea and the headache, the Cardinals took precautions related to COVID-19, but Shildt confirmed it was not a related issue.

Bader entered as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning of Wednesday's 6-5 win, then played center field for the top of the ninth. He was replaced by pinch-hitter Max Schrock in the bottom of the frame.

“In this day and age, of course, everyone is concerned about COVID -- rightfully so -- but that’s not an issue in our minds or his based on testing as well,” Shildt said. “Just had a rough night, didn’t feel good, on the other side of it. Just getting some fluids in him to get him ready to go to maybe compete in the game if we need him.”

Tyler O'Neill, who had two days out of the lineup to begin this series against the Royals at Busch Stadium, was in left field, batting seventh. That addition shifted rookie Dylan Carlson to center field, and Tommy Edman played right field Wednesday.

Wieters back in town Thursday
Catcher Matt Wieters (left big toe contusion) will return to St. Louis on Thursday to be evaluated for the broken toe he sustained last week in Chicago. The team placed him on the 10-day injured list Aug. 20 when Yadier Molina returned from the COVID-19 injured list. Wieters went home to rest and has continued daily testing there, so he will not have to go through intake testing again when he returns to St. Louis, Shildt said.

Wieters reported to Shildt through text that his toe is feeling better after taking a foul ball off of it a week ago against the Cubs, and it has less inflammation than when he went home.

Worth noting
• Carlos Martinez (COVID-19) will face hitters Thursday at the Cardinals’ alternate training site in Springfield, Mo., in live batting practice. He will begin to build his pitch count to likely return to the rotation as a reinforcement during the Cardinals’ seven September doubleheaders.

Quotable
“It’s not my job in the first place. I feel like we have a pretty good idea -- we’ve been with this group for a while. [ Kwang Hyun Kim] is newer to the group, but this is a nucleus that’s been together for awhile besides for the younger bullpen guys, the [Johan] Oviedos and Alex [Reyes]. We play with what we have, and as always, we have plenty of good thoughts. ... I have not thought one time about the Trade Deadline. I don’t feel like we need anything. I do feel like our group is very much together and competing and really just taking it literally game by game.” -- Shildt, on Monday’s Trade Deadline