Masyn Winn’s Knee MRI Clears, Cardinals Await Return

St. Louis shortstop Masyn Winn underwent magnetic-resonance imaging of his left knee on Tuesday, 2026. The scan returned “clean,” indicating no structural injury. Winn left the Sunday loss to Kansas City in the seventh inning after reporting a cramp-like soreness in the same knee. Manager Oliver Marmol announced that Winn will be classified as day-to-day, with the expectation that he could rejoin the lineup as early as Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

ESPN

Winn entered the 2026 season as the defending Gold Glove shortstop, having earned the award in 2025 despite a late-season right-knee procedure that ended that campaign. The current left-knee issue is unrelated to the prior surgery. Through 41 games, Winn is batting .255 with a .331 on-base percentage and a .353 slugging percentage, contributing one home run and 17 RBIs. Defensively, he continues to be a key factor in the Cardinals’ infield, a role that helped the team achieve a 27-19 record and a third-place standing in the National League Central, one game behind the Chicago Cubs.

Cardinals’ Oliver Marmol shares Masyn Winn knee injury update

Marmol emphasized a cautious approach, noting that the team prioritized imaging before testing Winn’s readiness. He explained that the goal is to avoid “pushing through anything structural” while allowing Winn to return on a “day-to-day and as tolerated” basis. Marmol reported that Winn communicated feeling “slightly better, but still sore” after the Sunday game and that the player did not appear overly concerned. The manager indicated that the Cardinals will monitor Winn’s response to light activity on Wednesday before making a final roster decision.

Masyn Winn out of Cardinals lineup vs. Pirates

• “He'll be day to day and he's feeling a lot better as the day has gone on,” — Oliver Marmol, Manager, St. Louis Cardinals

ESPN

• “He was slightly better, but still sore,” — Oliver Marmol

Masyn Winn out of Cardinals lineup vs. Pirates

• “Based on how he communicated right after the game, he wasn’t very concerned when I talked to him,” — Oliver Marmol

Masyn Winn out of Cardinals lineup vs. Pirates

• “Marmol told reporters that Masyn Winn is currently undergoing an MRI on his left knee. ‘We just want to make sure that it’s fine if he wants to go day to day and as tolerated, but that we’re not pushing through anything structural.' (Surgery last year was on the right.)” — Oliver Marmol

Cardinals’ Oliver Marmol shares Masyn Winn knee injury update

All three sources consistently report a clean MRI and a day-to-day status for Winn. No contradictory information regarding the injury severity or imaging results was identified. The primary gap is the absence of a definitive timeline for Winn’s return beyond the tentative Wednesday target.

Masyn Winn out of Cardinals lineup vs. Pirates

If Winn’s condition improves with light activity, the Cardinals plan to activate him for the Wednesday series opener against Pittsburgh. The Pirates, also exceeding expectations with a 24-23 record, present a competitive matchup. A successful return could bolster St. Louis’s push for the NL Central lead as the season progresses.

Cardinals’ Oliver Marmol shares Masyn Winn knee injury update