Everson Pereira X-Rays Show No Break, But Hand Remains Swollen

Cardinals outfielder Everson Pereira had x-rays on his hand that showed no break, per Cardinals beat reporter Derrick Goold — a result Pereira described as a relief, even as the hand remains swollen and painful.

Pereira told Goold he intends to take batting practice in the cage to test the hand, leaving his availability an open question rather than a settled one. Goold noted more information would follow.

What we don't know yet

Whether Pereira can handle live BP without setback, and what that means for his near-term availability, remains to be seen. A swollen, painful hand that passed x-rays is not the same as a hand ready for game action — the cage session is the next data point.

The broader picture in St. Louis

The Pereira update lands in the middle of a genuinely crowded Cardinals injury ledger. Per earlier Posterior reporting, Andre Pallante is on the IL with right elbow inflammation, Hunter Dobbins exited a game with right forearm tightness, and Masyn Winn has been out of the starting lineup with a left thumb injury. A hand concern for an outfielder fits the moment uncomfortably well.

For now, the most useful thing Pereira's x-rays did was rule something out. What they ruled in — a timeline, a roster status, a return — is still to be determined.