ST. LOUIS -- Catcher A.J. Pierzynski has been added to the St. Louis Cardinals' roster for the NL Championship Series and lefty reliever Sam Freeman has been taken off.
Manager Mike Matheny said Friday that Pierzynski gave the team an experienced bat off the bench, and a third catcher that allows for use of backup Tony Cruz against the San Francisco Giants. The best-of-seven series starts Saturday night.
Workouts Friday were mostly indoors because of rain.
Freeman walked two batters in his lone appearance in the NL Division Series against the Dodgers. He was 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA in 44 games during the season.
Pierzynski got a lot of playing time when Yadier Molina was sidelined two months with a torn ligament in his right thumb. He batted .244 with a homer and six RBI in 30 games and was 5 for 14 as a pinch hitter with the Cardinals and Red Sox.
