Nathan Church is making a strong case for a regular role in the St. Louis Cardinals' outfield. Church's diving catch of a Bobby Witt Jr. line drive, which left his bat at 100.7 mph according to Statcast, robbed the Royals' All-Star of at least extra bases -- if not a potential inside-the-park home run -- in the top of the third inning of the Cardinals' 2-0 loss to Kansas City. Church's defensive prowess is his calling card, and his strong glove has earned him a spot on the team. Church's left-handed hitting has been productive, with a .246 batting average, five home runs, and 18 RBIs this season. His ability to play all three outfield positions and his game-saving catches make him a valuable asset to the team. Church's role in the outfield seems to be on solid ground, especially with Lars Nootbaar's return drawing near. Church's latest defensive gem occurred in the right-field corner, directly below a section of shirtless rowdy fans that have been the talk of the league over the weekend. The Cardinals' starting rotation has been strong, with eight quality starts since May 1, and Pallante's performance was particularly impressive. However, Royals starter Stephen Kolek spoiled Pallante's effort, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings. The Cardinals sit eight games over .500 as they prepare to start a string of 12 straight against Central Division foes, and their focus is on one game at a time.
