St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday is out indefinitely following an appendectomy on Friday.
The team has not yet set a timetable for his return, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes it usually takes four to six weeks before a player can begin “strenuous activity.”
Holliday’s absence will create a giant hole in the Cardinals and fantasy lineups alike. The St. Louis cleanup hitter went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI on Opening Day.
In the meantime, Jon Jay and Allen Craig will fill in for him in left field. From a fantasy perspective, they offer some value in deep and N.L.-only leagues.
Jay, a left-handed hitter, compiled a .301 average over 1,564 career minor league at-bats before his first taste of big league action last season.
The 26-year-old offers a high average, but limited power/speed potential, as made evident by his 2010 line with St. Louis: 47 runs, four home runs, two steals and a .300 average in 287 at-bats, mostly from the No. 2 hole.
Craig, also 26, offers much better power potential. In 1,906 career minor league at-bats, Craig hit 90 HRs with a .308 batting clip. In his first taste of big league action in 2010, he hit .246 with four HRs in 114 at-bats.
The Cardinals have an off day today, but will resume action tomorrow at home against Padres southpaw Clayton Richard. For what it’s worth, Jay (a lefty) hit southpaws to the tune of .308 last season. Craig struggled against lefties, batting just .208.
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