Only six players have reached both 500

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The St. Louis Cardinals are trying to get through their weekend series at Detroit without their on-field leader.Catcher Yadier Molina has a mild left hamstring strain and will probably sit out the final two games of the series. The second game of the three-game set will be played Saturday night. Molina suffered the injury on a steal attempt against Washington on Wednesday.Article continues below ...“He got his treatment and said he felt better today than he felt yesterday Pedro Alvarez Jersey , so that’s an encouraging sign. But still, it’s something that’s (going to) keep him out of the lineup for some period of time,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt told MLB.com. “We’re not sure what that looks like.”The Cardinals will make a roster addition on Saturday as infielder Jedd Gyorko will come off the 10-day disabled list. Gyorko, who is returning from a left groin strain, won’t be immediately reinserted into the lineup.“He’s at that stage where he’s getting back to activities that will allow him to get back in the lineup,” Shildt told MLB.com.Right-hander Jack Flaherty (8-6, 2.83 ERA) gets the start for St. Louis on Saturday. In August, Flaherty went 4-0 while giving up a total of just four earned runs over five starts. His first September outing was a little shaky. He limited Washington to one run and three hits in five innings but issued a season-high five walks. The 22-year-old got a no-decision as the bullpen gave away a two-run lead in the ninth.He’ll be making his first career appearance against Detroit.Tigers starter Matthew Boyd (9-12 http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authentic-tim-beckham-jersey , 4.24 ERA) has been on a win-one, lose-one roller coaster in his last seven starts. He notched a victory in his last outing on Sunday, holding the New York Yankees to three runs in six innings. His teammates provided eight runs during that span and the Tigers collected an 11-7 win.“It was nice to have had a big lead and to be able to attack,” Boyd said.That was just Boyd’s third win in 12 road decisions. He has been more effective at Comerica Park, going 6-3 with a 2.56 ERA in 12 starts. Boyd, who has never faced the Cardinals, notched wins in his last three home starts while giving up just one run and 12 hits in 20 innings. St. Louis’ bullpen woes continued during the first game of the series, a 5-3 Tigers victory. Jordan Hicks gave up a game-winning Anthony Santander Jersey , two-run homer to Jeimer Candelario in the bottom of the ninth.The homer followed a one-out single by No. 9 hitter Victor Reyes.“Really exciting,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Guy out there is throwing 100 miles an hour and Victor slaps one down the left-field line and then Candy steps up and goes opposite on him.”It has been a bad month for St. Louis relievers. Bud Norris lost his closer’s job after blowing saves in back-to-back games.“Those guys are in a pennant race, so it’s exciting for us to take part in stuff like this,” Gardenhire said. “We know how much it means on their side and our guys are fighting and that’s really fun.” DETROIT (AP) Miguel Cabrera can now say it with a good deal of certainty: Baseball is harder than it looks on TV.”It’s so easy when you watch the game on TV. It’s so slow,” the Detroit slugger said. ”The game is so simple on TV.”It’s not nearly as simple on the field, of course, and right now all Cabrera can do is watch. The Tigers lost their star first baseman in the middle of June to a ruptured biceps tendon, and he’s out for the season. Detroit was in a rebuilding mode anyway http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-brach-jersey , but losing one of the team’s top hitters was a significant blow.Cabrera was back at Comerica Park on Monday night to host an event supporting children’s health and youth baseball programs. He seemed to be feeling good, but he has a long way to go before playing again.”Right now it’s a little slow,” Cabrera said. ”Hopefully in a couple weeks I starting do more stuff, to be healthy again.”Cabrera said he goes back and forth between Michigan and Florida, and he thinks he’s making good progress toward being ready for spring training next year. The two-time American League MVP is 35 now, and this was supposed to be a crucial year for the veteran to show if he could still be one of the game’s most feared hitters after a poor showing in 2017.Instead, Cabrera has played only 38 games after never playing fewer than 119 in his previous decade with the Tigers.”Really hard, watch the games on TV. It’s really hard don’t be on the field with my teammates. It doesn’t matter if we win or lose. I want to be part of this process Colby Rasmus Jersey ,” Cabrera said. ”Right now, I’m focused to be back next year and healthy.”Cabrera’s big contract extends through at least 2023, which means Detroit may have a hard time trading him as part of its rebuild. In 2016, he hit .316 with 38 home runs and 108 RBIs – his eighth straight year finishing in the AL’s top seven in batting average.Then last season, he hit .249 with only 16 homers and an unsightly .399 slugging percentage.There were some decent signs early this year. Cabrera hit .299 with a .395 on-base percentage. But he had only three home runs. He was hitting .323 when he went on the disabled list in early May with a hamstring strain . He came back June 1, but his bat was quiet from then until his season-ending injury June 12.Cabrera’s absence has left a big hole in the lineup, and Detroit has backup catcher John Hicks playing first base quite a bit in his place.Only six players have reached both 500 home runs and 3,000 hits http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authentic-craig-gentry-jersey , and with 465 homers and 2,676 hits, Cabrera still has a good chance to join that group if he can come back and play several more seasons. His pursuit of those milestones is on hold now, though. And Detroit fans can only wonder how effective he’ll be going forward.Cabrera was cheerful Monday night and quick with a laugh, but it’s clear that being out of action is tough for him.”I can’t describe what I’m feeling right now,” Cabrera said. ”I need to stay focused, mentally stay focusing on trying to be back healthy next year.”—
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