St. Louis Cardinals All-Stars Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt can't play in Toronto series due to COVID-19 vaccination status

The St. Louis Cardinals will be without All-Star infielders  Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt for their two-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto this week because of Canada's COVID-19 vaccination rules, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters Sunday.

Catcher Austin Romine also will miss the series because he is unvaccinated against COVID-19.

To enter the country, the Canadian government requires a person to have received a second COVID-19 vaccine dose -- or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine -- at least 14 days before entry.

All three players will be placed on the restricted list and will not be paid or accrue major league service time for the two games, according to a March agreement between Major League Baseball and the players' association.

Arenado will lose $384,416, Goldschmidt $241,758 and Romine $10,989.

Mozeliak said the three players will be replaced on the roster by catcher Ivan Herrera, outfielder Conner Capel and infielder/outfielder Cory Spangenberg in the series, which will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Goldschmidt hit two home runs in the Cardinals' 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. He leads the Cardinals in batting average (.335), home runs (24), RBIs (77), on-base percentage (.417) and slugging percentage (.619).

Arenado, who went 0-for-4 on Sunday, is second on the team in average (.296), home runs (18), RBIs (59) and slugging percentage (.528) and is third in on-base percentage (.359).

Also on Sunday, the Cardinals placed left-handed starter Steven Matz on the 15-day injured list with a torn MCL in his left knee. Matz will meet with Dr. George Paleta, the team's surgeon, on Monday to determine whether surgery is necessary and to determine an estimated length of time he will be sidelined.

Matz (4-3, 5.70 ERA) left his start on Saturday against the Reds in the sixth inning after trying to field a dribbler up the first-base line. Right-hander James Naile was recalled from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move.

The Cardinals (51-46) are currently in second place in the National League Central and hold the third and final wild-card spot.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.