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But the one he chose late Tuesday night, as a fresh bruise throbbed on his tenderized left hand, should stress his rising level of concern.

Scary.

“Every hit by pitch is scary,� Contreras said. “I wish it hit me in a different spot. Every hit by pitch on the hand is really scary. ... Probably, it can be bad luck. It can be they’re trying to go in and off the plate. And we’re not protecting anybody, (so) that’s going to keep happening.�

For the second time in a week, Contreras was struck by a pitch at 99 mph or faster on his left hand. A week ago, a Cubs reliever slammed a fastball into Contreras’ knuckles, and on Tuesday, Pittsburgh’s flame-throwing phenom Paul Skenes sent a 99 mph fastball up and in on Contreras that thudded into the side of the same hand. Contreras would stay in the game to run the bases and participate in one of the most consequential plays of the Cardinals’ 1-0 loss to the Pirates.

The entire time he was on the bases, he opened and closed and flexed his hand in an attempt to dissipate the pain. It persisted, and he was removed from the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. X-rays taken at PNC Park did not reveal any fracture, and he was diagnosed with a bruise that remained sore hours later and that kept him out of the lineup for Thursday’s series finale.

“It’s frustrating. It gets old,� he said. “I know they’re not trying to hit me in the hand. I’m a human being. It gets old. I want to play. I want to stay in the game. I don’t know what to say about it.

“Protect myself, and hopefully somebody protects me.�

Contreras has been hit by a pitch 14 times already this season. That leads the National League by three and is tied with Ty France and former Cardinal Randy Arozarena for the most in the majors. The Cardinals, with a less high-octane, more contact-oriented veteran pitching staff, are tied for hitting the second-fewest batters, at 24. Contreras missed time a year ago with two fractures, and he has talked candidly in the past week about his fear of another fracture in his hand — and the time he would miss.

The bruises, aches and shorter-term injuries are already mounting for the Cardinals.

And it’s showing up on the scoreboard.

In the same game that Lars Nootbaar (ribcage) returned to the lineup, Nolan Arenado (sprained finger) did not start, and Contreras (bruised hand) left after the fourth inning. Jordan Walker (appendicitis) joined the team in Pittsburgh for a checkup, but he’s still several days away from a return and may not be in the lineup during this road trip. Ivan Herrera (hamstring) won’t be either as he continues a steady return from a torn muscle.

The schedule through June was taxing, and the injuries in the past week have been draining. Of those players, all but Nootbaar bat right-handed, so it’s no revelation the wheezing Cardinals have struggled in the past week against lefties.

Left-handed starters have held the Cardinals to a single run in their previous four starts against them, and the Cardinals have been shut out a total of four times in the past week.

Those are their only four losses in the week.

Skenes is the first right-hander to join the group, but it was not for lack of chances.

The Cardinals got a runner to third base on Skenes in the first inning with one out. In the third inning, back-to-back singles by Victor Scott II and Brendan Donovan put runners at the corners with no outs. Both innings fizzled without a run scoring.

“You’re facing a guy like him, and it’s hard when you pass up opportunities,� manager Oliver Marmol said. “We got doubled-off. We didn’t get the bunt down. Left the runner on third. Those are all things that are tough that you’re hoping to execute at a higher rate. ... You’re facing one of the best arms. You’re hoping to execute. That rate goes down against better pitchers.�

While starter Andre Pallante sped through innings on nine pitches like he did in the third, Skenes had to hopscotch through trouble and saw his pitch count climb to 75 after four innings. He would allow five runs and strike out five batters and fail to get a win for the sixth time against the Cardinals, but Skenes’ outing would also be scoreless. The right-hander got fortunate with a lineout to shortstop in the third that caught Donovan away from first base for an inning-ending double play. And he got help from Tommy Pham in left field in the fourth.

That was the same inning Skenes pegged Contreras.

Contreras’ Spidey sense buzzed early in the plate appearance.

Skenes wedged a first-pitch 98.6 mph fastball on the inner edge of the plate. It was off the plate and close to moving Contreras’ feet. It was also called a strike.

“That’s the way the league is pitching to me, and they’re coming in and off the plate,� Contreras said. “The umpires keep calling pitches off the plate. At the same time, it’s not the pitcher’s fault. If they get the location off the plate and it’s a strike, they’re going to go back there again, back in there. I don’t think it’s anybody’s fault. He’s getting pitches off the plate.�

Skenes went back there twice.

With a 2-2 count, Skenes drove a 99.6 mph fastball up and in on Contreras, who stands close to cover the outside of the strike zone. The former All-Star catcher fouled off the high-and-in offering. The next pitch, a 99.3 mph fastball, was further inside and hit Contreras’ hand.

He was met at first base by Marmol and an athletic trainer. The game paused for a lengthy stretch as they tended to Contreras, and he showed the pinky side of his left hand for where the ball struck him. Contreras remained in the game to run for himself to determine if the pain would relent and the hand cooperate with him staying the game. Instead of replacing him on the bases with speedier Garrett Hampson, the Cardinals gave him that time because he’s remained in the game before, and they were already down Arenado, Herrera and Walker.

The inning went sideways when Jose Fermin popped up a bunt.

On their way to 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position — including 0 for 2 in the ninth inning against closer David Bednar — the Cardinals were 0 for 6 when catcher Pedro Pages came up against Skenes in the fourth inning. Contreras was at second. Pages pulled a single to left, and Contreras was off to the races. A pitcher like Skenes invites aggressive choices on the bases when a scoring opportunity surfaces, and Contreras was waved around third. Left fielder Pham’s throw home beat Contreras by at least a stride.

The final out of the inning was at home plate.

That was the first of two outs at home for the Cardinals — the second came in the ninth and would have tied the game. Contreras was the third of six Cardinals to reach third base and not score. He was tagged out by Pittsburgh’s catcher Henry Davis, who four innings later hit the sacrifice fly that brought home the game’s lone run.

Contreras was back from X-rays by then, but the Cardinals, their lineup thinned, struggled to find a way back in the game.

“We need to get to the off-day,� Marmol said.