Yadi optimistic about health for postseason
Cards catcher hasn't yet passed strength tests for ligament tear in left thumb
PITTSBURGH -- Catcher Yadier Molina joined the Cardinals in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and spoke optimistically about his chances to return to the field during the postseason.
Molina stayed behind in St. Louis an extra day to go through a series of strength tests with his left thumb, eight days after he sustained a slight ligament tear while making a tag at the plate. Molina did not pass all of those tests, but he said the doctor told him that with another week of rest, "there's a high [chance] to pass them."
• Gear up for Cardinals' postseason
Molina is scheduled for his next follow-up exam on Monday.
"It's still good news," Molina said. "It's still a chance to come back and play. The doctors said I just need one more week. We'll wait for one more week and we'll see where we are."
If the Cardinals win the National League Central, they'd be able to bypass the Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser and wouldn't open their NL Division Series until Oct. 9. Every extra day of rest improves Molina's chances of healing, as general manager John Mozeliak acknowledged on Monday that "it's just more about the clock" at this time in the season.