Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell to miss NL Championship Series

The Chicago Cubs will send Jon Lester to the mound for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday night, and Javier Baez will start at shortstop after Addison Russell was shelved because of a left hamstring injury.

Russell was hurt while legging out a triple in Game 3 of an NL division series against the Cardinals. He said he felt the hamstring grab while he was rounding second, and Manager Joe Maddon said the rookie had a moderate strain.

“Addy right now will not participate in this next round,” Maddon said Thursday. “Hopefully, if everything plays properly and we have another opportunity to play in another round, he might be available at that time, but for sure not this one.”

Maddon said they haven’t made a decision on Russell’s replacement for the NLCS roster against the Dodgers or New York Mets that must be submitted by Saturday morning. Reliever Jason Motte, who has been out because of a right shoulder strain, is a possibility for this round, and Maddon said he probably will use four starters in the best-of-seven series.

Baez hit a three-run homer in Chicago’s series-ending 6-4 victory in Game 4.

After Lester pitches in the opener, Jake Arrieta will go in Game 2 on Sunday night. Lester is 6-5 with a 2.66 earned-run average in 15 career postseason games, including 13 starts.

Arrieta is one of the favorites for the NL Cy Young Award.

Toronto security scrutinized

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’ American League 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 return throw to the pitcher, resulting 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.

“The highly unfortunate reactions of a group of fans at Rogers Centre in Wednesday’s game represented a major source of concern,” MLB said in a statement Thursday. “We appreciate the response of the local authorities and the Blue Jays stadium operations staff in identifying, ejecting and — in some cases — arresting the offenders.

Toronto opens the AL Championship Series at Kansas City on Friday and hosts the Royals for Games 3 through 5.

“We will discuss comprehensive security plans for upcoming postseason games in Toronto and reiterate the importance of fans observing the appropriate code of conduct,” MLB said.

Molina faces surgery

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.

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. .

Tal’s Hill remains

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, affected 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. Tal’s Hill, a tribute to Cincinnati’s Crosley Field and other old ballparks, is named after former longtime Astros executive Tal Smith.