St. Louis Cardinals first baseman believes he could be a positive contributor in the World Series if the team includes him on their roster, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Allen Craig injury: Cardinals 1B ‘ready’ for World Series
Craig has missed six weeks, but believes he could be a boon to the Cardinals as they seek a 12th World Series championship.
“If it’s up to me, I’ll be there,” Craig told reporters. “I’m ready. I feel I can help.”
He took part in a simulated game Friday, taking what would have been 10 at-bats. Manager Mike Matheny said he looked good and that there were no evident signs of rust. Craig is expected to take one more round of batting before the Cardinals make a decision on his status for the World Series.
Craig has not played since Sept. 4 due to a Lisfranc injury. He was not included on the Cardinals’ roster for either the Divisional Series or the Championship Series. General manager John Mozeliak said at the beginning of the postseason that while there was a chance Craig could compete in the playoffs, the odds were not in his favor.
Matt Adams has played first base in Craig's absence, and was excellent in the NLDS before an awful performance in the NLCS against the Dodgers. Craig had been a steady bat for St. Louis all year, hitting .315 with an 830 OPS.
If the Cardinals do indeed have Craig on their World Series roster, he would almost certainly not play in the field. Instead, he would be utilized as a designated hitter in games taking place at the American League ballpark and as a pinch-hitter when in St. Louis.
More from SB Nation MLB:
See More:
