LOS ANGELES — St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina will be in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the NLDS after showing good mobility with his injured left knee, manager Tony La Russa said this afternoon.

Molina was a scratch from Sunday’s game and he had a difficult time completing the game Friday because of a deep bruise on his knee. Molina took a foul ball off his kneecap in Colorado, and he has been slowed by soreness since. He had trouble playing out a full game because the knee would tighten up on him and make it difficult to squat down in a the catcher’s stance.

Molina took a normal batting practice today at Dodger Stadium, and La Russa said he was moving around well enough to start. La Russa said he had no qualms, no concerns about starting the catcher.

“Not after watching him today,” La Russa said. “Right now, he’s looking great.”

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