Cardinals activate Victor Scott II with Labor Day roster move, Willson Contreras remains in lineup

Douglas Santo

Cardinals activate Victor Scott II with Labor Day roster move, Willson Contreras remains in lineup image

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The St. Louis Cardinals announced the activation of centerfielder Victor Scott II from the 10-day injured list on Monday morning, ahead of the team's Labor Day matchup with the Oakland Athletics, according to MLB.com's John Denton.

Scott has been out since Aug. 16 with a left ankle sprain. The Cardinals' outfielder did a brief three-game rehab stint at Double-A Springfield before being activated back to St. Louis.

Although Scott will rejoin the major league club on Labor Day, the outfielder is not in the starting lineup. Conversely, first baseman Willson Contreras remains in the Cardinals' starting lineup after he was handed a six-game suspension on Aug. 26.

Scott returns, Contreras Yet to Have Appeal Hearing

Contreras was called out on strikes in the seventh inning of the Cardinals' game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 25, and was ejected after making a derogatory comment.

The Cardinal's first baseman then spiked his helmet, threw his bat backward and tossed a bucket of chewing gum onto the field, which eventually led to his suspension.

Contreras denied any such comment, and has appealed the suspension.

"I’m still wondering, to be honest, because I don’t think he had any reason to throw me out," Contreras said after the game (h/t MLB.com). "I didn’t argue any pitch in any at-bat and I didn’t argue any pitch in my last at-bat. The only thing I said was, ‘Call the pitches for both sides because you are missing for us.’ He threw me out and he had no reason for it. Apparently, he heard something [he thought] I said, and I did not say that."

However, nearly a week later, it appears Contreras has still not had his appeal hearing because the Cardinals' first baseman remains in the starting lineup.

In other injury news, Cardinals' right handed pitcher Riley O'Brien underwent an MRI on his sore right shoulder on Monday morning and is being shut down until a course of action is set, according the MLB.com's John Denton.

O'Brien has broke out in 2025 to the tune of a 1.69 ERA across 31 games. He's been counted on in high-leverage spots and in closing roles.

The Cardinals' will start their three-game series with the A's on Labor Day with Sonny Gray on the mound.

Douglas Santo

Douglas Santo is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. As a senior at Arizona State University, he will complete his B.A. in sports journalism with a minor in business in December 2025. Before his time with Sporting News, Douglas covered the NFL and MLB for Athlon Sports and contributed as a digital reporter for Arizona PBS/Cronkite News. He is also the head of Sun Devil Daily, managing all content produced about Arizona State Sports.