Goldschmidt went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Goldschmidt's slow start has been the cause of much consternation for St. Louis, and it's led to him batting fifth in the last two games. He's gone 3-for-7 since the drop in the order, so it looks like the change is at least having a short-term effect. The first baseman is batting a meager .195 with a .566 OPS, two homers, nine RBI and eight runs scored over 94 plate appearances. Goldschmidt's track record will give him a lot of leeway to work out of his struggles, but it's possible that the 36-year-old may be starting to feel his age as well.

Goldschmidt is starting at first base and batting fifth Sunday against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

The 36-year-old has a .173/.279/.213 slash line through 20 games this season and will drop below the cleanup spot for the first time since 2013, per Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com. Goldschmidt's track record provides plenty of reason to believe it's only matter of before he turns things around, but the move down the order is notable given his usual stability in the lineup.

Goldschmidt is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Phillies, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's a routine day off for Goldschmidt, who has just one hit in his last four games and is sporting a .544 OPS so far this season. Alec Burleson will fill in for Goldschmidt at first base Wednesday.

Goldschmidt went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

The 36-year-old has had a poor start to the young season, slashing .200/.319/.275 with 13 strikeouts through 40 at-bats. It's possible that Goldschmidt's age is finally starting to show, but he's still a seven-time All-Star who won an MVP just two years ago. His average may not match those from previous years, but the veteran first basemen should still have some power left in the tank for 2024.

Goldschmidt went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 7-1 loss to the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Goldschmidt accounted for all three of the Cardinals' hits Thursday, including a fourth-inning homer off Tyler Glasnow that stood at St. Louis' lone run in the Opening Day defeat. The veteran first baseman slashed .268/.363/.447 last season with 25 home runs and 80 RBI. The Cardinals are counting on Goldschmidt to provide a similar offensive presence in the middle of their order this year.

Goldschmidt is 1-for-10 with five strikeouts and a walk over his first five Grapefruit League games.

EDGE Analysis

Goldschmidt's strikeout rate ticked up to 23.5 percent last season -- it's been steadily going up since his career-low mark of 18.7 percent in 2020. By normal standards, Goldschmidt was fine with a .268/.363/.447 slash line over 154 games last season, but it was a vast drop compared to his MVP-level performance the year before. The 36-year-old first baseman isn't in danger over losing his spot in the lineup, but he may simply no longer be the ever-reliable hitter he once was. A better showing from the Cardinals' offense as a whole may be able to buoy Goldschmidt's numbers even if his best years are behind him.

Goldschmidt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Goldschmidt returned to the lineup the past two games after missing a couple with back tightness, and he'll return to the bench for St. Louis' final game of the year. Barring an appearance off the bench, the veteran first baseman will close 2023 with an .810 OPS, 25 home runs, 11 steals, 80 RBI and 89 runs in 154 contests.

Goldschmidt (back) is starting at first base and batting second Friday against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Goldschmidt has sat out the Cardinals' last two games while dealing with back tightness, but the issue seems to have subsided ahead of Friday's contest. The 36-year-old first baseman has been held hitless (0-for-8) over his last three games.

Manager Oliver Marmol said Goldschmidt is out of the lineup Thursday at Milwaukee due to back tightness, Bally Sports Midwest reports.

EDGE Analysis

Goldschmidt also sat Wednesday, though Marmol indicated that the back issue is nothing serious. "We want to make sure he's good to play when we get back home in front of our own fans [for the final weekend in St. Louis]," Marmol said Thursday. "No reason to really push through it today." Luken Baker has been filling in at first base.

Goldschmidt remains out of the lineup Thursday at Milwaukee.

EDGE Analysis

There's no word of an injury, but Goldschmidt did not play in the Cardinals' 3-2 loss to the Brewers on Wednesday and will ride the pine again in Thursday's series finale. Luken Baker is starting at first base as Juan Yepez fills the DH role.