Cardinals place 9-time All-Star C Molina on IL

The St. Louis Cardinals placed nine-time All-Star catcher Yadier Molina on the 10-day injured list on Friday. Molina has a strained tendon in his right thumb. The move was retroactive to May 29.

Rookie catcher Andrew Knizner was recalled from Triple-A Memphis to replace Molina. Molina, 36, injured the thumb in last Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves. He attempted to play through the injury but was having trouble gripping the bat.

Molina, a nine-time Gold Glover, is batting .265 with four homers and 33 RBIs in 50 games this season. He has 1,900 career hits and 150 homers. Knizner will back up Matt Wieters while Molina is on the IL. The 24-year-old was hitting .286 with five homers and 17 RBIs at Memphis.

Molina is on the injured list for the sixth time in his 16 major league seasons. --Field Level Media