It's an exciting time for the Chicago Cubs, but the team suffered a big blow on Thursday. Their NLDS opponent, the St. Louis Cardinals, was also hit with some bad news today.
Chicago will face the winner of tonight's NLDS Game 5 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets in the NLCS. However, they'll be without starting shortstop Addison Russell for that series after the 21-year-old injured his hamstring in Game 3 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Per @CubsJoeMadd, Addison Russell will not participate in the #NLCS. #Cubs
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 15, 2015
Joe Maddon called the injury a mild/moderate hamstring strain and hoped Addison Russell would be ready if #Cubs advance to World Series.
— Patrick Mooney (@CSNMooney) October 15, 2015
Addison Russell is OUT for the NLCS with a moderate hamstring strain. pic.twitter.com/AjRDFPtgtP
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) October 15, 2015
Fellow rookie Javier Baez will start in favor of Russell in the NLCS. The Cubs will miss Russell's defense the most, but they get a formidable offensive replacement in Baez, who hit a three-run home run in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Cardinals and helped Chicago clinch its first postseason series since 2003.
As for the Cardinals, they were missing star catcher Yadier Molina in that Game 4 matchup due to a thumb injury. Molina suffered a ligament tear in the area late in the regular season, but was on the team's NLDS roster and played the first three games of the series.
However, this thumb couldn't hold up for Game 4 and he'll now need surgery to repair the ligament.
Yadier Molina with have surgery on his thumb today. Will be without baseball activity for 8-12 weeks. Should be ready for Spring Training.
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) October 15, 2015
Yadier Molina will be having left thumb surgery this afternoon; 8-12 weeks of no baseball activity to follow.
— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) October 15, 2015
The Cardinals are now 0-4 in postseason games over the past two years during which Molina doesn't start. It's discouraging that Molina may not be able to participate in baseball activities for up to three months, but the catcher has rebounded successfully from a number of other injuries throughout his career.
Stay tuned for updates on both Russell and Molina in the coming days/weeks.
