Yadier Molina's healthy hitting — the Cardinals' catcher had nine hits in four games before Saturday's loss to the Reds — and backup catcher Brayan Pena's knee injury made it difficult for manager Mike Matheny to find an off day for his eight-time Gold Glove Award winner.
The first one, scripted out days in advance, comes Sunday. Eric Fryer, who is three-for-three this season, will get the start in the series finale against the Reds. That doesn't mean Molina won't be a presence at Busch Stadium.
His first day of rest came the same day Rawlings handed over Molina's most recent Gold Glove Award.