This Date in Baseball-Week Ahead
This Date in Baseball-Oct. 15-21OCTOBER 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Robot umpires would destroy the beauty of the catcher position The framing skills of, say, a Yadier Molina could be rendered useless by machines
OCTOBER 11, 2021 • DEADSPIN.COM
After late-season run, eliminated Cards head into offseason
It took the biggest winning streak in franchise history to get the St. Louis Cardinals into the playoffsOCTOBER 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dodgers leave Buehler off wild-card roster; Cards add Yepez
The Los Angeles Dodgers left pitcher Walker Buehler off their roster for the one-game wild-card playoff against the St. Louis CardinalsOCTOBER 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Healthy heading into postseason Molina started both of the Cardinals' final two games of the regular season following a three-game absence due to shoulder soreness. He went 1-for-7 with three strikeouts and finis...
Impact The veteran backstop got some rest days in ahead of the Cardinals' postseason, but manager Mike Shildt made sure to also afford him some reps before the curtain closed on the regular season. Molina's 2021 slash line left plenty of room for improvement, yet his 11 home runs and 66 RBI were his best figures in that category since 2018.
OCTOBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Cubs edge Cardinals 3-2 in rain-shortened finale
Matt Duffy extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games with a pair of run-scoring singles to help the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday...OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Returns to lineup Molina (shoulder) is starting Saturday's game against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Impact Molina had missed the last four games due to a sore right shoulder, but he'll start behind the plate and bat sixth Saturday. The 39-year-old went 3-for-10 with a double, four RBI, a run and a walk across his last three appearances.
OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Lester expected to start as Cardinals host the Cubs
The Cardinals are expected to send Jon Lester to the mound Saturday and the Cubs will give Adrian Sampson the startOCTOBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wainwright, Cardinals get deal for 2022; ace starts WC game
Longtime St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright will return next season, the club announced five days ahead of his next big start for the CardinalsOCTOBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
On bench again Friday Molina (shoulder) is out of the lineup Friday against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Impact Molina will sit for the forth straight game while nursing a sore right shoulder. St. Louis has secured it's playoff positioning, so there's no incentive to rush the veteran catcher back into the starting nine. Andrew Knizner will work behind the plate again in his absence.
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Rookie Carlson homers twice, Cardinals beat Brewers 4-3
Dylan Carlson homered twice, once from each side of the plate, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Still sitting Molina (shoulder) remains on the bench for Thursday's game against the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Impact A sore shoulder will now cost Molina his third straight start. The Cardinals have no incentive to risk anything with the veteran backstop as they've already locked up a wild-card spot. Andrew Knizner remains the starter behind the plate.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Happ expected to start as St. Louis hosts Milwaukee
The Brewers will start Brett Anderson on Thursday and the Cardinals are expected to counter with J.ASEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cards' 17-game winning streak ends with 4-0 loss to Brewers
The Cardinals’ team-record 17-game winning streak ended when Daniel Vogelbach hit a two-run homer that backed Adrian Houser and led the Milwaukee Brewers over St. Louis 4-0SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Remains out of lineup Molina (shoulder) isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Brewers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Impact Molina was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to shoulder soreness, and he'll be excluded from the starting nine for a second straight contest. Manager Mike Shildt said Wednesday that the backstop will get a few days off prior to the end of the regular season after the Cardinals clinched a postseason spot, but he isn't concerned about Molina's injury. Andrew Knizner will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Scratched with sore shoulder Molina was scratched from Tuesday's lineup versus the Brewers due to shoulder soreness, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Impact Molina has apparently been dealing with the injury over the past few days, and he won't start Tuesday's contest after initially being slated to work behind the plate. Andrew Knizner will take over catching duties with Adam Wainwright on the mound as the Cardinals attempt to secure their spot in the playoffs.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Depth shows up for Cardinals during 16-game win streak
The St. Louis Cardinals are proving to be a lot more than their biggest starsSEPTEMBER 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Receives breather Sunday Molina is not in the lineup Sunday against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Impact Molina started behind the plate each of the past seven games, with his only game out of the lineup coming in Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader. Andrew Knizner will catch for St. Louis in the series finale.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Cardinals set team record with 15th straight win, beat Cubs
The St. Louis Cardinals set a franchise record with their 15th straight win, boosted when catcher Yadier Molina and center fielder Harrison Bader helped pull off a wild double play...SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cards match record with 14th straight win, rip Cubs 12-4
The surging St. Louis Cardinals emphatically matched a team record with their 14th straight win, pounding the Chicago Cubs 12-4 in the second game of a doubleheader behind Tyler O’...SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Resting Friday afternoon Molina is on the bench for Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Impact The 38-year-old gets the afternoon off before gearing up to catch Jack Flaherty (shoulder) in the nightcap. Molina has hit .289 with two home runs and nine RBI in his last 12 games. Andrew Knizner starts behind the dish and bats eighth.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Goldschmidt homers twice, Cards beat Brewers for 12th in row
Paul Goldschmidt homered twice, and the St. Louis Cardinals overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5 and extend their longest winning streak in 39 years to 12...SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Plates two in win Molina went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles in a win over the Brewers on Monday.
Impact The veteran backstop did his part in helping the Cardinals garner a ninth straight win, plating Tyler O'Neill and Nolan Arenado in the sixth and eighth innings with his timely knocks. Molina has been wielding a productive bat most of September, as he now owns a .310/.370/.500 slash line with two doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, two walks, two hit-by-pitches and eight runs across the 46 plate appearances he's logged over his last 11 games.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Lester wins 200th, Cards down Brewers for ninth straight win
Jon Lester notched his 200th career win, Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 for their ninth consecutive...SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rests Sunday afternoon Molina is on the bench for Sunday's game against the Padres.
Impact Consecutive hitless showings have lowered Molina's average to .290 with four extra-base hits and five RBI in his last 10 games. Andrew Knizner is catching and batting eighth Sunday.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
