Belleville News-Democrat: Cards’ Carpenter expected to take paternity leave after wife gives birth to daughter
BY DAVID WILHELMÂ dwilhelm@bnd.com
ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter was not available to play Wednesday and could miss most of the four-game series in Washington while on paternity leave.
Carpenter’s wife, Mackenzie, gave birth Wednesday to the couple’s first child, a daughter. Carpenter’s absence Wednesday meant he was unable to face his former Texas Christian University teammate, Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta.
The Cardinals lost to Arrieta and the Cubs 9-8.
“He let us know early (Wednesday) morning that things were changing,†Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of the news surrounding Carpenter’s wife. “I don’t think the news around here is nearly as important as the news he had there. Things are progressing.â€
Matheny said Carpenter would have played Wednesday had he been available. …