Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Will open as backup catcher
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Knizner will open the season as the Cardinals' backup catcher, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Knizner has gone just 4-for-42 (.095) through 14 games this spring in the Grapefruit League, but he still managed to fend off a challenge from Tres Barrera. It probably came down to experience in the end, as Knizner was the locked-in backup to Yadier Molina the last two years. He'll now fill the same role behind offseason addition Willson Contreras.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Not assured of backup job
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Cardinals manager Oli Marmol noted Tuesday that Knizner is not assured of the team's backup catcher role, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Knizner served as the primary understudy to Yadier Molina over the last two seasons, but he holds just a .204/.292/.288 career batting line in 553 plate appearances at the major-league level. Tres Barrera has impressed the Cardinals' coaches and pitchers this spring, per Denton, and might emerge as the No. 2 option behind Willson Contreras.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Reaches deal with St. Louis
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Knizner agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Cardinals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Knizner appeared in a career-high 97 games last season and had a .215/.301/.300 slash line with four home runs and 25 RBI. He'll remain the No. 2 catcher despite the retirement of Yadier Molina after the Cardinals signed Willson Contreras in free agency.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Homers in second straight game
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Knizner went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss against the Brewers.
Knizner led off the seventh inning with a homer off righty reliever Matt Bush to cut the Cardinals' deficit to one. The catcher's last 14 games have been abysmal at the plate as he's recorded a .098 average and .268 slugging percentage over 41 at-bats. However after a recent 0-for-19 stretch , the 27-year-old has homered in back-to-back contests.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Goes deep in victory
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Knizner went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's win over the Brewers.
Knizner connected for a two-run shot off Brent Suter in the top of the fourth frame, extending the Cardinals' lead to 4-0. The homer was his third of the season and first since Aug. 27. Since the beginning of September, Knizner has gone 2-for-36 with a home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored while striking out 10 times.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Homers in Saturday's win
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Knizner went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and a hit-by-pitch in Saturday's 6-5 win over Atlanta.
Knizner has hit safely in five straight games, going 7-for-16 (.438) with a homer, three RBI, eight runs scored and a pair of doubles in that short but productive stretch. He accounted for the Cardinals' first two runs in this contest. The catcher has alternated starts with Yadier Molina over the last six games, which suggests Knizner may be forcing his way into a timeshare. He has a .231/.329/.302 slash line with two homers, 22 RBI, 23 runs scored and eight doubles through 229 plate appearances this year.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Returns to No. 2 role
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Knizner will return to the bench for Monday's game against the Cubs, Bally Sports Midwest reports.
With Yadier Molina (personal) coming off the restricted list Monday and stepping back in as the Cardinals' No. 1 catcher, Knizner's brief run atop the depth chart comes to an end. Knizner was behind the plate for both of the Cardinals' final two games of the weekend series in Arizona and went 3-for-7 with a double, two walks and four runs.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Scores thrice Saturday
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Knizner went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and three runs scored in Saturday's 16-7 win over the Diamondbacks.
Knizner got the start behind the dish Saturday as Yadier Molina (personal) is away from the team. In his last 10 games, Knizner has delivered four multi-hit efforts with two doubles, two RBI and seven runs scored. The backup catcher is up to a .219/.311/.273 slash line with one home run, 19 RBI, 18 runs scored and seven doubles through 213 plate appearances this year. Molina is expected to rejoin the Cardinals on Monday, so Knizner's time as the No. 1 backstop is likely limited.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Back in No. 2 role
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Knizner is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
With Yadier Molina (knee) back from the 10-day injured list and stepping into the lineup Tuesday, Knizner is expected to serve as St. Louis' No. 2 backstop moving forward. Knizner finally started to find a rhythm at the plate in July with a .280/.345/.320 slash line on the month, but he's still holding down a poor .575 OPS over 194 plate appearances on the season.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: On bench for series finale
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Knizner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Knizner will get a much-needed breather after he started behind the plate in each of the past six games. Austin Romine will relieve Knizner of catching duties in the series finale, but both players are likely to settle into reserve roles as soon as Tuesday, when No. 1 backstop Yadier Molina (knee) is expected to be activated from the injured list.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Riding pine Friday
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Knizner isn't starting Friday against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Knizner drew starts in five of the last six games and went 7-for-15 with a double, five RBI and a run. Austin Romine is starting behind the plate and batting ninth.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Idle Sunday
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Knizner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
He'll get a breather for the day game, paving the way for Austin Romine to get a turn behind the dish. Knizner appears to have re-established himself as St. Louis' top backstop in the absence of the injured Yadier Molina (knee) after going 7-for-15 with five RBI while starting at catcher in five of the Cardinals' previous six contests.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Takes seat Friday
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Knizner isn't in the lineup Friday against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Knizner is resting after he went 6-for-11 with a double, five runs, an RBI and a walk over the last four games. Austin Romine will start behind the dish and bat ninth.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Drives in three
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Knizner went 3-for-4 with three RBI in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Dodgers.
Knizner hit RBI singles in the second, fourth and eighth innings, with the last of those three knocks providing the margin of victory. The catcher hadn't posted a multi-hit game since May 22, and this was his second three-hit effort of the season. He's gone 5-for-21 (.238) in July and owns a .197/.288/.246 slash line with a home run, 16 RBI, 10 runs scored and four doubles in 55 contests overall.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Overtakes Romine on depth chart
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Knizner will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Phillies.
Though Knizner sat three times during a four-game stretch last week, he appears to have taken back the Cardinals' primary catcher role from Austin Romine. Knizner will be included in the lineup for the third time in four contests despite having produced an .096 batting average dating back to the start of June.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Takes seat Thursday
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Knizner isn't starting Thursday against Atlanta, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Knizner went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Wednesday and will be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games. Austin Romine is starting behind the dish and batting ninth, and he appears to be the slight favorite for playing time behind the dish for now.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Sits in second straight game
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Knizner is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Atlanta.
Though he appeared to have returned to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart after Ivan Herrera was recently optioned to Triple-A Memphis, and while Yadier Molina (knee) remains on the injured list, Knizner will end up sitting for the second game in a row. New call-up Austin Romine will make another turn behind the plate as the Cardinals look to see if he can provide an upgrade over Knizner, who has produced a .523 OPS over his 145 plate appearances on the season.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Gets third start in four games
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Knizner will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Phillies.
The Cardinals gave Ivan Herrera a look as their No. 1 backstop to begin last week, but the rookie was unable to run away with the job. As a result, Knizner -- who is starting for the third time in four games -- looks like he'll receive another trial as the team's primary backstop while Yadier Molina (knee) remains on the injured list. Knizner has been one of baseball's least-productive hitters among players with at least 100 plate appearances, as he'll take a .185/.284/.242 slash line and 60 wRC+ into Sunday's contest.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Appears stuck in backup role
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Knizner remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Knizner is on the bench for the third game in a row and looks as though he'll serve as the Cardinals' No. 2 catcher even while top backstop Yadier Molina (knee) faces an uncertain timeline to return from the 10-day injured list. Per Jones, manager Oliver Marmol said he intended to give Ivan Herrera a trial as the Cardinals' primary catcher, so Knizner may be asked to make only a start or two per week if Herrera performs well enough to hang on to the No. 1 role.
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Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Remains out of lineup
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Knizner isn't starting Monday against Miami, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Knizner went 0-for-7 with two strikeouts over his last three games and will be out of the lineup for a second consecutive matchup. Ivan Herrera is starting behind the plate and batting ninth.
