Yadier Molina was a late scratch from the Cardinals' lineup Jose Reyes Jersey for Game 4 of the NL Division Series on Tuesday after leaving the previous day's game early.

The veteran catcher has tried to rush back from a torn ligament in his left thumb but exited Game 3 in the sixth inning after aggravating the problem on a swing earlier Tug McGraw Jersey in the game. Though Molina had hoped to be ready for Tuesday's elimination game, the Cardinals pulled him about two hours before game time and put Tony Cruz in the lineup in his place.

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Manager Mike Matheny said Molina is having no problems catching and could do that without a problem if Cruz got hurt. Swinging the bat, though, is another story.

"This is an injury that really relies on rest," Matheny Tuesday. Michael Conforto Jersey "After the season, everything will be kind of addre sed to the severity, but at this point the doctors are comfortable if he can tolerate it, but it's just Nolan Ryan Jersey really difficult to swing the bat, and if we get an opportunity to play beyond today, a little bit of rest, a couple days of rest may do wonders and we see him back."

While Molina's status going forward remains to be seen, the Cubs have some concerns of their own with shortstop Addison Ru sell. He, too, Steven Matz Jersey left Game 3 early after injuring his hamstring while legging out a fourth-inning triple and Javier Baez is in his place in the Game 4 lineup.

Ru sell was due to get an MRI on Tuesday morning but there was no immediate word on his status before the game.

No MRI results/prognosis on Ru sell yet. But Maddon doesn't expect Noah Syndergaard Jersey him for a potential G5.