Molina on Cardinals roster, will play wearing splint
By R.B. FALLSTROM, Associated Press
Oct 8, 2015 2:36 PM CDT
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, left, talks with manager Mike Matheny during baseball practice on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, in St. Louis. The Cardinals will face either the Pittsburgh Pirates or the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the NLDS on Friday in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)   (Associated Press)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — All-Star catcher Yadier Molina is on the St. Louis Cardinals roster for the NL division series against the Chicago Cubs and will play wearing a splint to protect a strained ligament in his left thumb.

Molina was injured on a tag play in Chicago on Sept. 20.

The Cardinals roster includes four rookies — outfielder Randal Grichuk, outfielder-first baseman Stephen Piscotty, outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder Greg Garcia — for the best-of-five series that starts Friday night.

Lefty Tyler Lyons joins them after impressive outings down the stretch.

Expected in the lineup for Game 1 are Grichuk in right field and Piscotty at first.

Not on the roster: First baseman Matt Adams, who returned late in the season from a torn quadriceps; relievers Randy Choate and Steve Cishek and infielder Pete Kozmaby.