Yadier Molina, Brandon Phillips out with significant injuries

Yadier Molina and Brandon Phillips will both have surgery to repair torn thumb ligaments, and both are out for eight weeks or more. The two injuries could have a significant effect on the NL Central race. The Pirates are currently in fourth place in the NL Central, but they're two games behind the Reds and 2.5 games behind the Cardinals.

The Molina injury is the more significant of the two -- Molina hasn't played as well this year as last, but he's extremely important to the Cardinals on both sides on the ball, and they don't have any great options to replace him, since Tony Cruz doesn't profile as a starter. It wouldn't be a huge surprise to see the Cards make a deal for a catcher. Phillips, meanwhile, is probably past his prime, but as with Molina and the Cardinals, the Reds don't have a great backup plan. Ramon Santiago and Skip Schumaker, neither of whom have hit much this year, could get playing time in Phillips' absence.