Setback for Cardinals: Contreras Out 6-8 Weeks with Forearm Fracture

All-Star catcher Willson Contreras suffered a forearm fracture during Tuesday's game against the Mets, leaving the Cardinals offense further depleted. Contreras is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, a significant blow to a team already struggling to score runs.

**St. Louis, Missouri** - The St. Louis Cardinals received a devastating blow on Tuesday night when All-Star catcher Willson Contreras suffered a forearm fracture during the team's 7-5 loss to the New York Mets. Contreras is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, leaving a major void in the Cardinals' lineup.

The injury occurred in the bottom of the first inning when Contreras was hit by a 96 mph fastball from Mets starter Taijuan Walker. Contreras immediately grabbed his left forearm in pain and was removed from the game. X-rays later confirmed the fracture.

Contreras has been a cornerstone of the Cardinals offense this season, hitting .258 with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs. His absence will be felt both offensively and defensively.

The Cardinals have already been struggling to score runs, ranking near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories. Contreras's injury will only exacerbate those struggles.

"This is a huge loss for us," Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. "Willson has been one of our best hitters and our leader behind the plate. We're going to have to find a way to replace his production."

One possible replacement for Contreras is Andrew Knizner, who has filled in capably behind the plate in the past. However, Knizner is not an offensive threat at the same level as Contreras.

The Cardinals could also look to the trade market to acquire a veteran catcher. However, with the trade deadline approaching, the asking prices for catchers may be too high.

In the meantime, the Cardinals will have to hope that their offense can find a way to compensate for Contreras's absence. The team has a number of talented hitters, but they have not been able to consistently put together runs this season.

Contreras's injury is a major setback for the Cardinals, who are already in a tough spot in the NL Central standings. The team is 10 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers and 7 games behind the Chicago Cubs.

The Cardinals have a tough schedule ahead of them, with a road trip to face the NL-leading Los Angeles Dodgers next. They will need to find a way to win games without Contreras if they want to stay in contention for the playoffs.