The St. Louis Cardinals are suddenly down a few outfielders.
In the same frame that saw right fielder Stephen Piscotty exit due to a hamstring issue, Cardinals center fielder Dexter Fowler - the team's marquee free-agent signing this winter - was forced to leave Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers after just three innings with what the team is calling a right shoulder strain.
He was replaced in the lineup by Greg Garcia as part of a multi-position shuffle that also saw shortstop Aledmys Diaz move to the outfield for the first time in his career.
Fowler appeared to sustain the injury while attempting to make a diving catch on Hernan Perez, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. That play turned into a double for Perez, and led to a three-run inning for Milwaukee.
Fowler, who hit a two-run triple off Brewers starter Chase Anderson in the second inning, came into Thursday's contest hitting just .218/.298/.386 with four homers and one stolen base this season.
Faced with the prospect of losing one or both of Fowler and Piscotty for a potentially extended period, the Cardinals are reportedly going to call up outfielder Tommy Pham following Thursday's contest, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
