Yadier Molina, who is battling a thumb injury, was not in the lineup for Game 4 of the National League Division Series as the St. Louis Cardinals saw their season end at the hands of the Chicago Cubs.
Molina was originally in the lineup for the contest, but was scratched in favor of backup Tony Cruz.
He originally injured his hand when Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo slid into home on Sept. 20, suffering a partially torn ligament in his left thumb.
Continue for updates.
Molina to Undergo Tests to Determine Severity of Injury
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Molina will undergo an MRI on his hand on Wednesday.
Matheny Comments on Molina’s Injury
Tuesday, Oct. 13
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said on Tuesday that Molina has “considerable weakness” in the injured left hand, per Goold.
Molina Is Crucial to Cards’ Title Hopes in 2016
It wasn’t a surprise to see Molina struggling offensively in the NLDS, as this season had been a difficult one for the 33-year-old. He did play in 136 games, but his .660 OPS was his worst since 2006 and the third-worst mark of his career.
Molina is a seven-time All-Star, a former Silver Slugger winner and a seven-time Gold Glove winner. The Cardinals’ pitching staff boasted a sparkling 2.79 ERA in games Molina caught before he went down with the thumb injury, per Nightengale.
Now that St. Louis’ season is over, the team can allow Molina to get healthy before reloading for another run at a World Series title.
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