The Latest Breaking News from Yadier Molina

Even for a win-now, splurge-“Mo”-splurge guy like myself, the idea of the Cardinals trading for Juan Soto is a tough one to back.

LOS ANGELES — A sensation he had around the Cardinals clubhouse a year ago continued this week when Paul Goldschmidt returned to the All-Star Game for the first time in four years. More than his jersey had changed, but it was hard to explain what.

The veteran catcher will be placed on 10-day IL, and it is unclear when he is expected to return.

Yadi knows a balk when he sees one.

ST. LOUIS — Dakota Hudson lapsed into a bad habit that had plagued him. Juan Yepez returned to a good one that had got him to the majors.

ST. LOUIS — Tommy Edman, who uncharacteristically had grounded into a double play to snuff out a Cardinals rally in the seventh inning, got another chance in the ninth Saturday.

Albert Pujols was so happy for his friend.

Not bad for a 39-year-old fella!

CHICAGO — Before the Cardinals could capitalize on the generosity of the rulebook in extra innings and the rolling production of their rookies, they first had to get outs.

ST. LOUIS — As Cardinals linchpins Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina march inexorably toward the all-time record for starts made by one major league battery, Paul Goldschmidt marches to. . . . well, we don’t exactly know yet.

Normally, when Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina hook up as a battery, some sort of record is broken or, at least being challenged. On Thursday night at Busch Stadium, the pair made their 313th start together, three games behind the second-place Milwaukee Braves duo of Warren Spahn and Del Crandall.