Cardinals to start Lackey
John Lackey will get the start in Game 1 of the NLDS for the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
Manager Mike Matheny said he likely will reveal the playoff roster after a workout today.
The biggest question involves All-Star catcher Yadier Molina, who has worn a brace protecting the strained ligament in his left thumb during practice in recent days. The Cardinals are optimistic Molina, injured on a tag play at the plate on Sept. 20, can play.
Molina worked out with the team on Wednesday.
Dodgers: Yasiel Puig said he’s on the playoff roster for Los Angeles, which hasn’t revealed its 25-man squad for the upcoming NLDS.
Puig missed the final month of the regular season while sidelined with a hamstring injury. He returned last week and played in the last two games, starting and getting a hit in the first one.
His season was marred by two stints on the DL. He hit .255, with 11 homers and 38 RBIs.
Mets: Pitcher Matt Harvey showed up at Wednesday’s practice at 10 a.m., one day after missing a mandatory workout. Manager Terry Collins said Harvey was fined and remains scheduled to start Game 3 in the NLDS.
Ratings up: The Astros’ 3-0 win over the Yankees in the AL wildcard game Tuesday night on ESPN averaged more than 7.6 million viewers. That’s up 36 percent from the 5.6 million for last year’s NL game between the Giants and Pirates on ESPN, which was the previous high. It’s up 46 percent from the 5.2 million for the 2014 AL game between K.C. and Oakland on TBS.