PITTSBURGH (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have placed catcher Yadier Molina and outfielder Shane Robinson on the 15-day disabled list and recalled outfielder Adron Chambers and utility player Brock Peterson from Triple-A Memphis.

Molina has been dealing with a right knee sprain for more than a month. He left a 6-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night after the third inning and flew to St. Louis on Wednesday for further examination. Molina is third in the National League with a .330 batting average. The All-Star said late Tuesday he tried to play through the pain but believes rest is a better option.

The injury comes at a difficult time for the Cardinals, who have lost a season-high six straight to fall 1½ games behind Pittsburgh in the NL Central.