Yadier Molina tested his strained left oblique muscle before Game 4 of the NLCS on Wednesday night, but the St. Louis Cardinals catcher was not in the starting lineup.

Molina took only a few light swings before the pain became too much for him to continue.

He hadn't swung a bat since sustaining the injury in Game 2 on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants.

"It didn't feel real great, as expected," Mike Matheny said. "He's still continuing to feel good as he goes out and plays catch, and throwing, receiving. Doing the things he needs to behind the plate are all fine."