Matheny: Molina staying fresh despite heavy workload

Yadier Molina is on pace to play 150 games and 1,293 innings, both of which would establish career-highs for the St. Louis Cardinals’ All-Star catcher.

But Molina was out of the lineup Sunday for the first time since July 8 as Cardinals manager Mike Matheny turned over the reins to Tony Cruz in the series finale against Atlanta.

Matheny said Molina, 33, who set career-highs in games (140) and innings (1,186 2/3) in 2009, has been used about like Matheny envisioned. Molina grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth-inning of a 3-2 loss and is batting .290 with 17 doubles, two home runs and 38 RBIs.

“It’s all (about) how he feels,” Matheny said. “We don’t necessarily line it out way ahead of time. We just kind of watch. How’s he going? How’s his body looking? How’s he moving? How’s the swing coming along? That is part of the equation.

“All that put together, he’s looked good. He’s got a lot of life to him. I think we’re seeing the benefit of all the work he’s put in to get himself in the shape he’s in.”

Molina dropped between 15 and 20 pounds in the offseason, which has helped maintain his energy level and eased the burden on his knees, always an issue for catchers.

“I think he knew that his legs were going to feel better (and) his whole body would feel better if he was able drop a little bit of weight,” Matheny said. “He had a plan. It’s amazing. Most guys, in order to stick around for a while, they have to make those kind of adjustments.”

Matheny said Molina didn’t balk at being idled Sunday, although Matheny acknowledged that Molina is interested in surpassing his previous high for innings played.

“That’s probably one of the goals he has,” Matheny said. “I remember that being something that meant a lot to me as a catcher, too. So I get that. ... With Yadi, we’re going to be cautious, but we’re also going to be very observant and see what he needs.”

Molina played all 18 innings on July 19 in a 3-1 loss to the New York Mets. Matheny didn’t consider that as overextending Molina.

“That last inning, he had as much life as he had in the first inning,” Matheny said. “You can see that he’s just in a good spot right now. That’s all there is to it.”

Piscotty, finally

Rookie Stephen Piscotty, who drove in the winning run with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly Saturday, received his first start at Busch Stadium on Sunday and was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Piscotty played first base and batted sixth, three days after being scratched from the lineup because of a stiff neck caused by a fitful night of sleep.

“Mark (Reynolds) is a little sore from being hit,” Matheny said, referring to Reynolds being struck in the left hand by a pitch from Shelby Miller on Saturday. “He’ll still be available to come off the bench, but it’s a good day to get Mark out. ... Stephen’s going to give us a good opportunity to get a look at him, at least for part of the game. We can do whatever we have to do late.”

Piscotty is batting .333 (4-for-12) with one double and two RBIs.

“There’s definitely a lot of stuff I have to work on. There always is,” Piscotty said of playing first base, a new position. “But I do feel comfortable there. This was a good first step.”

Replay wait

Jason Heyward was ruled out at the plate on a strong throw from Braves left fielder Eury Perez in the fourth inning after Perez fielded Piscotty’s single.

But Matheny appealed the call and also asked the umpires to see whether catcher Ryan Lavarnway blocked Heyward’s path to the plate.

Umpires ruled Lavarnway did not block the plate, but that he never applied the tag. Heyward, therefore, was safe and the Cardinals trimmed their deficit to 2-1.

“A year ago, you asked to check the blocking of the plate, and that automatically reviewed safe (or) out,” Matheny said. “This year, you’ve got to be a little bit more specific. So that’s the way they went in (to the review), checking the safe-out and blocking the plate.”

The replay review lasted 5 minutes, 8 seconds, an unusually long time and perhaps further evidence that the system will require re-evaluation in the offseason.

Garcia’s date finalized

Matheny confirmed Sunday that left-hander Jaime Garcia will return from the disabled list Tuesday when he starts the 7:15 p.m. game against the Cincinnati Reds. Garcia (3-3, 1.69 ERA) hasn’t pitched since June 24 when he injured his left groin running the bases.

Garcia will be opposed by Mike Leake (8-5, 3.78 ERA). Leake, however, is one of many players rumored to be heading elsewhere before the trade deadline Friday.

Lance Lynn (7-5, 2.80 ERA) will start the opener of the series at 7:15 p.m. Monday against Raisel Iglesias (1-2, 5.45 ERA), and John Lackey (9-5, 2.88) will get an extra day of rest and pitch at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday against Anthony DeSclafani (5-7, 3.98).

This story was originally published July 26, 2015 at 1:58 PM with the headline "Matheny: Molina staying fresh despite heavy workload."