Adams out three to four months with quad injury, could miss rest of season

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals will look to veteran utilityman Mark Reynolds to take over at first base for the foreseeable future.

General manager John Mozeliak delivered grim news on first baseman Matt Adams, who pulled up and limped into second base favoring his right leg on a double Tuesday night against Arizona. The team announced during Wednesday's game Adams will be out for an estimated three to four months.

"I know he felt a pop last night," Mozeliak said.

An MRI revealed a quad strain rated between Grade Two and Three, with Three being a complete tear. Mozeliak said surgery was possible and added that early indications show a worse injury than the one that sidelined Tommy Pham in spring training and eventually led St. Louis to place him on the 60-day disabled list.

Suddenly, the offseason signing of Reynolds looks even more valuable, and he's done plenty already to impress Mozeliak and manager Mike Matheny. The 31-year-old is batting .250 with three home runs and 12 RBIs to go along with nine walks.

"It's huge the organization was wise enough to have somebody ready to jump in here," Matheny said. "Not that we were anticipating anything happening to Matt, but just to have that depth and understand that could be a spot we might need some help, to have a guy that's had the kind of production Mark's had for a long time. It could be a much tougher spot we're in right now."

Reynolds has been more or less an everyday player for the past eight seasons, with 20 or more home runs in each of the last seven. If he can't handle the increased load or needs a day off, other options at first base include Pete Kozma and catcher Yadier Molina on a temporary basis, as well as Triple A first baseman Xavier Scruggs.

Easley hoping for MLB debut

Adams' injury means another opportunity for catcher Ed Easley.

The 29-year-old joined St. Louis earlier this season in Cincinnati as an emergency option when backup catcher Tony Cruz went on paternity leave, but Easley still hasn't made his first major league appearance. This time around, Mozeliak said Easley got brought up in part because he's been swinging one of the hottest bats at Memphis, hitting .355 in his last 10 games.

"Now I'm here to be a little bit more available," Easley said. "I feel as good as I've felt all year right now and (Memphis hitting coach Mark Budaska) congratulated me and said, 'Don't change a thing.'"

He hardly got any sleep Tuesday night after getting pulled early from Memphis' game at Fresno and hopping on a plane at 6 a.m. local time to get to St. Louis via Dallas. Easley knows he'll be a little nervous if he gets called on to pinch hit, but he feels more comfortable with the team after his initial call-up and spending plenty of time with major leaguers during spring training.

An appearance Wednesday would be extra special, since it was Arizona that drafted him in the supplemental first round in 2007, before trading him to St. Louis prior to the 2014 season. Easley said he probably caught starter Josh Collmenter more than any other pitcher in his professional career.

"There was a lot of zero batting averages against him (in the Cardinals' lineup), but as you all know, he's got that weird, funky arm delivery and he loves his changeup," Easley said. "But he's a super nice guy and he's been successful and I'm glad to see him be successful. But hopefully, not tonight."

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