Kolten Wong still ceding time to Mark Ellis

Cardinals infielder Kolten Wong is back in the lineup Monday against the Mets, after sitting out the team's previous two games. Veteran Mark Ellis started in Wong's place, and manager Mike Matheny told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Monday Ellis' track record plays a part in why he keeps turning his way.

"We have a known quantity in Mark Ellis," Matheny said. "When he's going right and we can fit him in there and the matchup looks good, it's an easy day to give to him. Kolten is one of those great expectations-type players. He's shown so much of what he can do. We have to take advantage of days when he doesn't look right so we don’t just beat him up."

Wong has struggled to open the season, hitting just .237/.297/.288, though he has appeared in 17 of the team's 20 games so far.