Cubs’ Addison Russell out for Game 4, Yadier Molina not starting for Cards
CHICAGO — Two big names won’t be in the starting lineups of Tuesday’s NLDS Game 4 between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon announced that shortstop Addison Russell would not play in the game after injuring his hamstring on a triple in Monday’s Game 3. Maddon said he did not have an update on the severity of the injury and that the team was doing more tests to determine Russell’s availabilty for the rest of the playoffs.
Javier Baez, who replaced Russell on Monday, will play short and bat ninth for the Cubs. Baez committed a throwing error in Game 3 and bobbled another ball on an infield hit.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, will likely be without catcher Yadier Molina after he left Game 3 with a flareup of the injury to his right thumb that he suffered during the season. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said that Molina can catch, but cannot currently swing a bat.
[Related: Cubs overpower Cardinals with six homers in Game 3 win]
Tony Cruz will catch for the Cardinals. Matheny said he was unsure of Molina’s ability to hit going forward, but added that rest and treatment could improve the situation.
The Cubs currently lead the series 2-1 and can clinch a postseason series victory for the first time in Wrigley Field history with a win on Tuesday.
Grandstanding: A Yahoo Sports podcast
Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS feed
– – – – – – –
Kevin Kaduk is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!Follow @KevinKaduk