Yadier Molina to undergo MRI exam on sore right knee

Yadier Molina has been playing through knee soreness since late August, but has left the Cardinals on their road trip to Pittsburgh and traveled back to St. Louis to undergo an MRI exam. “We’ve been watching it closely,” manager Tony La Russa told Matthew Leach of MLB.com. “For him to agree to get it checked, there’s more soreness in it.” Molina has played well this month despite the pain, hitting .277/.342/.385 with 14 RBIs in 19 games. Matt Pagnozzi will draw starts behind the plate for however long he’s out, because the Cardinals’ usual backup catcher was forced into retirement by a Johnny Cueto kick to the head.