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Peralta could be the Cardinals' Opening Day starter at third base, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Rick Hummel reports.
While manager Mike Matheny commended Peralta's defensive actions at third base and was excited to see the strength back in his swing, he was not interested in declaring whether Peralta or Jedd Gyorko would start at the hot corner on Opening Day, but Hummel suspects it will be Peralta. His .685 OPS in 35 at-bats this spring does not inspire much confidence, but the team likes what it is seeing after Peralta dealt with a torn thumb ligament last season. He is coming to grips with the fact that his career as a regular shortstop is likely over, and is aware that with the move to third base, more pressure will be put on his bat. Matt Carpenter and Aledmys Diaz figure to play almost every day, but the deployment of Peralta, Gyorko, Kolten Wong, and Matt Adams should be a source of great frustration for fantasy owners this season.
