23 David Freese, 3B

Cardinals third baseman David Freese was out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres, the second game he has missed due to inflammation near his right thumb.

He remains day-to-day due to the injury.  

Cardinals third baseman David Freese was scratched from the lineup Monday against San Diego, MLB.com reports.

Freese has inflammation near his right thumb and is day to day. He was spiked during Sunday's game.

Freese is available off the bench and hopes to return Tuesday.

Cardinals third baseman David Freese required stitches to close a gash in his right hand that he sustained on Sunday against the Brewers.

Freese sustained the injury while lunging to tag Norichika Aoki, who tried to score from third base in the opening frame. Freese played with the cut and finished 2 for 3. He is hitting .223/.292/.282 with one home run and nine RBI.

Cardinals third baseman David Freese enjoyed a big night at the plate as he unleashed his first home run of the season Friday night against the Brewers.

Freese launched a grand slam in the first inning off starter Wily Peralta. He finished 1 for 4 with a run scored and four RBI in a 7-6 victory.

Freese has one hit in six of his last eight games. He is hitting .211 with one home run and eight RBI in 91 at-bats.

Cardinals third baseman David Freese has been unspectacular with a .216 average, .546 OPS, and no home runs. But buried in those stats is a recent streak that should offer Freese owners (and would-be owners) hope. 

Over 39 at-bats this month, Freese is hitting .282 with a double and four runs scored. Although he spent April dealing with injury and a .216 BABIP, Freese has hit safely in eight of 11 games this month and hashas a .367 BABIP in May. 

Owned in just 68 percent of leagues, Freese is quietly getting into a nice groove, and it's only a matter of time until third base speculators take notice. Forget Freese's ugly April and focus on his .296 career average coming into 2013 (Freese's lowest batting average in his four seasons has been .293 and he's seen his power rise as he received more at-bats). Taking a chance on Freese now should mean several months of solid average, along with maybe 12-15 home runs, as he distances himself from the ugly start.