While there are many ways to measure the Cardinals’ dwindling chances of contending for a wild-card berth — loss of games in the standings, loss of days from the calendar — there remains one clear loss that upended their season early and could again late.
Jack Flaherty, just back from an injury that sidelined him for 2 ½ months, left Tuesday’s game against Detroit suddenly in the third inning at Busch Stadium after allowing back-to-back home runs and experiencing an alarming sinkhole in velocity.
The Cardinals’ opening day starter held his glove tight to his side as he walked off the field with a trainer, and the team’s initial diagnosis was tightness in his right shoulder.