Kline aggravates finger injury, not with team

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- St. Louis Cardinals reliever Steve Kline, who's been playing with a torn tendon in the index finger of his throwing hand, aggravated the injury in Game 2 of the NLCS and did not accompany the team on the flight to Houston.

Kline told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he was going to see a hand specialist on Friday. He said he had difficulty gripping the ball Thursday night when he allowed two straight singles in the sixth inning of a 6-4 victory over the Astros before being removed from the game.

"I'm done," Kline said, but later amended that. "I hope not. Maybe they can shoot it up and get that inflammation out."

A team spokesman said he was unclear whether Kline planned to join the team later. The Cardinals lead the best-of-seven series 2-0 heading into Game 3 on Saturday.

The Cardinals have two left-handed relievers, also using Ray King to exploit late-inning matchups. Kline was 2-2 with a 1.79 ERA and three saves this season, holding left-handed hitters to a .142 average and allowing no earned runs in 33 appearances at home.

But he missed 28 games in the final month with a strained groin and the finger injury. He returned from the 15-day disabled list on Sept. 29, in time for the final five games of the regular season.