Cards places Molina on dueling list, Matz on IL

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals fielded star receiver Yadier Molina on the mourning list on Monday.

The move comes a day after Molina made his first career pitching appearance, working the ninth inning of an 18-4 win at Pittsburgh. He allowed a pair of home runs and four runs while ending the Cardinals’ three-game sweep.

Molina, 39, is hitting .239 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs in 26 games in what will likely be his final season in the majors.

Rookie catcher Iván Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Herrera, 21, one of the top prospects in the organization, was hitting .310 with 2 home runs and 13 RBIs for Memphis.

Also on Monday, the Cardinals placed the left-hander Steve Matz on the 15-day disabled list due to shoulder and outfielder injury Dylan Carlson on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

Matz lasted just four pitches in Sunday’s opener against the Pirates before suffering a stiff left shoulder. It’s been a bumpy start for Matz, a free-agent addition this offseason from the Toronto Blue Jays. He entered Sunday’s start 3-3 with a 6.03 ERA.

Carlson, who is hitting .247 with 2 home runs and 11 RBIs in 39 games this season, was placed on the disabled list retroactive to Saturday.

The Cardinals also dealt Angel Rondon (1-0) to Triple-A Memphis on Monday. Rondon allowed just one hit in five innings in relief of Matz on Sunday for his first major league victory, striking out four and walking three.

Also Monday, the Cardinals recalled left-hander Matthew Liberatore and outfielder Lars Nootbaar from Memphis. Liberatore, one of the Cardinals’ top prospects, made his major league debut Saturday against the Pirates. He allowed four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 4⅔ innings during that start.