The Cardinals, 31-25 and firmly in the National League playoff hunt, are set to get back a couple of key reinforcements. Top starter Carlos Martinez and catcher Yadier Molina are on track to come off the disabled list Tuesday, per Joe Trezza of MLB.com.
Martinez went on the DL on May 10 with a strained right lat, before which the 26-year-old opened the season with 50 innings of 1.62 ERA/3.36 FIP pitching. Thanks in part to the flamethrowing Martinez’s efforts, the Cardinals’ rotation owns the majors’ third-best ERA (3.01) and seventh-highest fWAR (5.7).
Martinez will rejoin an impressive group that has also received notable contributions from Miles Mikolas, Michael Wacha, Luke Weaver and Jack Flaherty, though it did lose high-ceiling 23-year-old Alex Reyes again earlier this week. Reyes returned from February 2017 Tommy John surgery this past Wednesday for a start against the NL Central rival Brewers, who lead the Cards by 4.5 games, but he lasted just four innings and subsequently went back on the DL with a “significant” lat strain.
Molina, meantime, has been out since May 6 – shortly after he underwent surgery for what St. Louis called a “pelvic injury with traumatic hematoma.” He suffered the injury behind the plate after taking a 100 mph-plus foul tip off the bat of the Cubs’ Kris Bryant. Molina, 35, had gotten off to a fine start to the season, slashing .272/.292/.456 with six home runs in 120 plate appearances and grading as one of the majors’ best pitch framers, per Baseball Prospectus.
Fill-in catchers Francisco Pena, Carson Kelly and Steven Baron haven’t been nearly as effective as Molina offensively, and all four Cardinals backstops have failed to throw out a single base stealer this season. Runners have gone a combined 20 for 20 against the Redbirds, though Molina figures to change that in the near future. Although the potential Hall of Famer yielded seven steals on as many attempts before his injury, he has thrown out a tremendous 41 percent of would-be base thieves during his career.
Good
Bet Austin Gomber and Carson Kelly get sent back to AAA Memphis
Nobody would take that contract.
I know he’s no Molina, but Francisco Pena has done a good job since he’s been playing. A lot better than Carson Kelly.
I expected a lot more from Kelly who got a legit shot during Molina’s absence. It may be a while before he gets another opportunity, and he did nothing to boost his deadline trade value.
I expect kelly to be a part of a trade in the upcoming future. He has no spot on the cardinals, once Molina is gone knisner is the new starter
He got hurt
and hasn’t played that much. Not much of a chance at all.
Lol. Seriously he’s started like 1/5 of the games he’s been healthy for. Pena hasn’t thrown out a single runner and is a terrible receiver and pitch framer. Kelly is much better defensively and an actual prospect offensively. Pena is garbage and should just be happy he’s getting an MLB paycheck. Matheny is a moron.
I bet Molina gets traded.
Lol you are joking, right?
No.
Good idea, I’m sure the fanbase and clubhouse would love if they got rid of him… Not.
Sure.
two cancers return
They are cancer to opposing teams, you are right.
No a cancer is someone that takes out a catcher blindsiding him at home plate. Oh and also a coward aka Rizzo. Don’t worry karma will catch up to him and the cubs soon. They do good against bottom feeders but they can’t beat anyone with an over 500 record.
And the band played on.
That was a bad slide tho…
Still can’t believe St Louis owes Molina $60 million for this year and the next two years. Ridiculous overpay.
I agree as a Cardinals fan it would make sense 5 years ago but doesn’t make as much sense at he is getting older
He took a 100mph foul ball right to his balls. Other than that Yadi has been solid for many years. I don’t understand how it’s an over pay for one of the best catchers in the game today..
Because the contract runs during his aged years of 35-37. He’s been in a defensive decline for 3 years. Have you noticed the pitching has been just fine without him?
Ok daved I’ll agree that he has been in a defensive decline the last couple years…the thing is he is still one of the best defensive catchers in the league…also he is a top offensive catcher…lol get real
He’s not one of the games best catchers today
Yes one of the best. Suck it up buttercup.
One of the dumbest sayings ever. Suck it up buttercup.
Lol jdgoat…yes he is
I mean he is always considered at the top
google.com/amp/s/amp.mlb.com/215288866-buster-pose…
Player Outlook
Even at 35 years old, Yadier Molina is still one of the best in the business.
The longtime St. Louis Cardinals backstop caught a whopping 1,125.2 innings last season, which accounted for 77.6 percent of the team’s innings behind the plate and trailed only Martin Maldonado (1,146.1) among all catchers.
He also launched 18 home runs—the most he’s hit since tallying 22 in 2012—after hitting a grand total of 19 over the previous three years.
Why is that an over pay. He’s still the best!
It’s called a legacy contract and Yadi is still productive
I’m all for paying the man, but pay him market value. Truth is no one was going to pay Yadier Molina an annual rate of $20MM. Especially not for his 35-37 age. Two years for $30MM would have been appropriately, like the Rangers did with Adrian Beltre.
Yadi is worth every dime