MLB notes: Cubs SS Addison Russell ruled out for NLCS with hamstring injury

CHICAGO – Cubs shortstop Addison Russell will not play in the NL Championship Series because of a strained left hamstring.

Manager Joe Maddon also says Jon Lester will start the series opener on Saturday night, followed by Jake Arrieta in Game 2 on Sunday. Lester is 6-5 with a 2.66 ERA in 15 career postseason games, including 13 starts.

The Cubs will find out their opponent for the next round when the Dodgers host the New York Mets in Game 5 of their division series on Thursday night.

Russell left Game 3 of the NLDS against the Cardinals due to tightness in his left hamstring. Maddon says it’s a moderate strain, and the team will be pragmatic with the injury.

Javier Baez, who replaced Russell after he left in the previous round, will be the starting shortstop in the NLCS.

Star Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina having thumb surgery

ST. LOUIS – Star Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is having surgery for a ligament injury to his left thumb.

General manager John Mozeliak says Molina is expected to be restricted from baseball activities for two to three months following Thursday’s operation. He anticipates Molina will be ready for spring training. Mozeliak doesn’t believe Molina worsened the injury by returning to the lineup for the NL Division Series.

Molina was hurt making a tag play in Chicago on Sept. 20. He played the first three games of the NLDS with a splint and a bat shaped more like an ax handle. He did not play in Game 4.

Reliever Matt Belisle will have arthroscopic surgery Monday to remove bone chips from his elbow.

Pitcher Carlos Martinez will not need surgery. He was shut down before the end of the season with a shoulder injury.

MLB to review Rogers Centre’s security following disturbance

NEW YORK – Major League Baseball will review security at Toronto’s Rogers Centre in an effort to prevent a repeat of the fan disturbance during Game 5 of the Blue Jays’ AL Division Series win over Texas.

Spectators littered the field with debris during an 18-minute delay Wednesday. Toronto catcher Russell Martin hit Texas batter Shin-Soo Choo with his seemingly simple return throw to the pitcher, which resulted in a go-ahead run for the Rangers after several conferences and an umpire’s review. Toronto scored four runs in the bottom of the inning and went on to win 6-3.

MLB said in a statement Thursday that “the highly unfortunate reactions of a group of fans at Rogers Centre in Wednesday’s game represented a major source of concern.”

Toronto opens the A.L. Championship Series at Kansas City on Friday and hosts the Royals for Games 3-5 starting Monday.

Wild ALDS 7th inning getting its own TV special

NEW YORK – The wild seventh inning between the Blue Jays and Rangers is getting its own TV special.

Fox said Thursday that it will air an hour-long program recapping the frame full of bizarre plays from Game 5 of the AL Division Series. “The Unforgettable Inning” will be hosted by former pitcher CJ Nitkowski and broadcast at 6 p.m. EDT on Friday on Fox Sports 1.

The 53-minute seventh Wednesday in Toronto started with the teams tied 2-2. In the top of the inning, Texas’ Rougned Odor scored the go-ahead run with two outs when Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin’s throw back to the mound hit batter Shin-Soo Choo, and the ball rolled up the third-base line. Fans pelted the field with debris during an 18-minute delay.

In the bottom of the inning, the Rangers committed three straight errors to help Toronto tie the score, and Jose Bautista hit a three-run homer, complete with an emphatic bat flip, for a 6-3 lead.

Benches cleared twice during the half-inning. Toronto advanced to face the Royals in the ALCS, which starts Friday night on Fox.

Tal’s Hill to remain at Astros’ park for 2016 season

HOUSTON – The Astros have postponed a planned renovation of center field at Minute Maid Park that would have removed Tal’s Hill and shortened the distance from the plate from 436 to 409 feet.

Team president Reid Ryan says that the Astros still plan for the renovations eventually but the construction timelines in the bidding process made clear the project could not be finished by next year’s home opener.

Houston said its playoff run coupled with an international cricket match in November impacted the construction timelines.

Houston’s center field is the deepest in the majors, and the $15 million renovation the team announced in June would have made it the sixth-deepest in the majors. Tal’s Hill, a tribute to Cincinnati’s Crosley Field and other old ballparks, is named after former longtime Astros executive Tal Smith.

Padres, Callaway to turn Petco Park into 9-hole layout

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres and Callaway Golf will turn Petco Park into a nine-hole layout from Nov 5-8.

The Links at Petco Park will begin on a putting green in the home dugout. Golfers will move to the ballpark’s upper deck for Nos. 2-5, where they will hit shots onto the field from various locations. The sixth will tee off on the field near the Western Metal Supply Co. building in the left field corner before golfers move to the batter’s eye in center field for No. 7. The eighth hole will be a putting green in the bullpen. The final hole will be on the roof of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building.

Prices are $100 for twosomes and $200 for foursomes. Callaway will provide clubs and balls.

Tee times opened Thursday.