Cardinals’ catcher Yadier Molina left the game Sunday against the Cubs with a sprained thumb after tagging a runner out at home plate. He went in for an MRI on Monday which revealed he had suffered a partially torn ligament in his left thumb.

No time table has been set for his return, but he is scheduled to be re-evaluated next week. For the time being, Tony Cruz will step in as catcher until Molina is able to return.

This is not the end of the world for the Cardinals by any means. The Cardinals were without their Golden Glove catcher for almost three months when he tore a ligament in his right thumb. Despite the loss of Molina for a good part of the season, the Cardinals still managed to win the NL Central by two games and make a run to the NLCS where they were defeated by the Pirates in five games.

The loss of Molina is in no way a death sentence for the Cardinals. It does raise the question, of whether the Cardinals will be able to pull themselves out of this funk they have been in before the playoffs.

The Cardinals have lost 10 of their past 17 games dating back to September 3rd. It’s not the number of losses that is the cause for alarm, but rather the fashion in which the losses have come. In the games that the Cardinals have lost since September 3rd, the average run differential has been 4.8. The blame for this cannot be put on any one player or group of players. Poor pitching and low offensive production are both at fault.

This is the part where losing Molina (possibly until the playoffs start) could be a problem. For years, Yadier Molina has been the rock for this pitching staff; almost like another coach on the field. Seeing the problems the pitching staff has been having lately with Molina in the lineup, it is hard to predict how the production will hold up in his absence.

On the bright side, Adam Wainwright, who has been out since April with a torn Achilles, has been cleared for baseball activity and should be able to start working in the bullpen and pitching simulated games this week. He will most likely not see a starting role for the rest of this season, but rather pitch out of the bullpen for the Cardinals as the regular season comes to a close and into the playoffs.

The Cardinals finish the year out with series against the Reds, Brewers, Pirates and Braves.