Chicago Cubs: Yadier Molina returns as Cardinals reveal their NLDS rotation

For the first time, ever, the Chicago Cubs will take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the postseason – which is hard to believe since these two have played over 2,360 times.

These two teams started to play each other long before we were ever thought of. In fact, the only one’s who witnessed the first encounters were our great, great grandparents since it was nearly 130 years ago.

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While the Cardinals currently hold 19 National League pennants to the Cubs’ 16, St. Louis has reached the promise land and won 11 times while the North Siders entered this season with only two.

Now that Theo Epstein’s infamous rebuilding plan has come to life, Joe Maddon and the Cubs have the opportunity of increasing that low number over the next decade or so considering the talent they have on their roster and within their farm system.

Winning their first playoff game since 2003 after shutting out the Pittsburgh Pirates in last night’s 4-0 victory to claim the N.L. Wild Card spot feels good, but this is only the beginning of this exciting journey.

With the National League Division Series between one of the greatest rivalries in sports history set, Mike Matheny has revealed his starting rotation and activated veteran catcher, Yadier Molina who will be playing with a split over his left thumb according to the Associate Press via Journal Star.

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Before we take a look at who will be taking the mound for the defending N.L. Central champions, we’ll discuss Molina’s situation and how it could be both good or bad for our surging club.

Molina, 33, is no doubt a first ballot Hall of Fame candidate and is someone you can both despise and respect at the same time if that even makes a bit of sense.

Although he’s representing our arch-rivals, you can’t help but enjoy watching Molina play when he’s not attempting to give our pitching staff and or skipper a massive migraine.

On Sept. 20 at Wrigley Field, Molina was injured on a play at the plate when first baseman Anthony Rizzo attempted to slide in safely but was tagged out in the process.

Rizzo unintentionally put his spikes into Molina’s glove which resulted in a ligament tear in his left thumb, causing him to miss the remainder of the 2015 regular season.

No one was sure if Yadier would be able to suit up this early in the playoffs, but being the tough competitor that he is, it appears he’s ready to stick it out.  In his career against the Cubs, Molina has 13 home runs, 86 RBI, 33 doubles, 163 hits, and 59 runs while slashing .308/.367/.443 with an OPS of .810 through 530 at-bats.

He’s proven time-and-time again to be a thorn in this organization’s side even with Albert Pujols out of the picture. So this pitching staff is going to need to limit his play over the course of this series.

Now back to the starting rotation.

According to Cardinals.com, Matheny’s starting rotation will feature John Lackey, Jaime Garcia, Michael Wacha, and Lance Lynn. Lackey will pick up tomorrow’s series opener while Wacha pick’s up game three at Wrigley Field next Monday.

Both team’s have had some great success against one another’s pitching staff, so this series will definitely have that National League Championship feel to it.

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