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Molina has been sidelined since June 15 with a knee soreness. He
will return from a brief rehabilitation assignment to Triple-A
Memphis to catch Wainwright (7-8, 3.28 ERA) in the opener of the
Cardinals' three-game series against the Cubs at Busch Stadium.
"It's a big deal," Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said.
"Looking forward to it."
Molina appeared in just two games during his rehab stint, going
1-for-5 with a walk and a stolen base. He missed one game after
getting hit in the hand by a pitch and his didn't play Sunday
due to a rainout.
"He feels good," Marmol said. "He feels like he's in a real good
spot. That's why I'm not concerned (about Sunday's rainout).
Getting at-bats was important."
Molina and Wainwright are scheduled to make their 317th start
together, which will push them past Warren Spahn and Del
Crandall for second place on the all-time list. Mickey Lolich
and Bill Freehan hold the record with 324 starts together.
Wainwright earned a 6-1 victory at Toronto in his last start
Wednesday. He allowed the lone run on five hits while striking
out eight Blue Jays and walking nobody in seven innings.
"I went into it looking at it as a great opportunity to prove
that I still had what it takes to be a great pitcher in this
game," Wainwright said. "Great pitcher. Great team over there.
Great offense. There was a lot of stuff I went into with today
for motivation. This was awesome. This is what I want as a
competitor."
In his only previous start against the Cubs this season,
Wainwright allowed two runs on nine hits and two walks in seven
innings on June 5. The Cardinals eventually won that game 5-3 in
11 innings.
While the Cardinals will welcome Molina back, the Cubs will
likely bid farewell to catcher Willson Contreras -- who topped
the list of players the team was shopping about the majors ahead
of Tuesday's trade deadline.
"I just want this to be over," Contreras said. "If they want to
trade me, they want to trade me. If they don't want to trade me,
then don't. But I just want this day to pass and keep focused on
playing baseball."
The Cubs made one trade on Monday, sending right-handed relief
pitcher Scott Effross to the New York Yankees in exchange for
minor league right-hander Hayden Wesneski.
Chicago will counter Wainwright with Keegan Thompson (8-4, 3.16
ERA), who earned a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in
his last start July 26.
Thompson allowed two unearned runs in a career-high seven
innings. He struck out seven batters, walked nobody and allowed
just four hits.
"That was as good as we've seen Keegan," Cubs manager David Ross
said. "He continues to build."
Thompson earned a victory over the Cardinals on June 2. He
allowed three runs on five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings
as the Cubs prevailed 7-5.
He is 1-0 with a 4.20 ERA in seven career outings against the
Cardinals, including two starts.
The Cardinals could get outfielder Tyler O'Neill back in the
lineup Tuesday. He left Saturday's game in Washington due to leg
soreness and sat out Sunday, but his injury was believed to be
minor.
--Field Level Media
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