Two injured Cards could change things
ATLANTA — The Cardinals played and won Game 162 without two starting position players: Matt Holliday and Rafael Furcal. Their status for the National League division series appears to be rather undecided.
Two injured Cards could change things
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA — The Cardinals played and won Game 162 without two starting position players: Matt Holliday and Rafael Furcal. Their status for the National League division series appears to be rather undecided.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported both players would likely land on the disabled list with their respective injuries if it were not September. General manager John Mozeliak told the paper that both players are "day to day."
Furcal suffered a hamstring pull Monday and did not play in any subsequent games. Nick Punto replaced him.
Holliday aggravated a tendon strain in his right middle finger Tuesday. He also did not play Wednesday. The Post-Dispatch said Holliday was scheduled to see a hand specialist Thursday. He could receive a cortisone injection, and such treatments usually require a few days of inactivity.
Holliday batted .296 with a .912 OPS in 124 games. He had 22 home runs and 36 doubles in an All-Star season.
"We'd like to think that both of them could improve in the short term," Mozeliak told the Post-Dispatch. "But we don't want to push and make them unavailable should things go forward."
Certainly something to watch in the coming days.
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- Which one is LaRussa? I say option B
— madecaro - As a Cards fan coming into Philly for the games this coming weekend, a few things are clear:
1) The Phillies are the far better team
2) The Phillies have more playoff experience than the Cardinals
3) The Phillies rotation and starting lineup are light-years ahead of the Cardinals
With that said, the only thing the Cards have going for them is 'momentum' (whatever that means) and the fact that they have been playing for their playoff lives over the course of the past 4 weeks. Whether that translates into postseason success against (arguably) the best team in the league is yet to be seen, but I don't think they are strong enough to overpower the Phils.
Not a homer, just a realist. Phils in 4.— lansman - Matt Holliday and Rafael Furcal are hardly scary.— Ron
- The Cardinals are hot at the moment, but that is why RAJ put together the pitching staff the Phillies have - to cool off hot teams. We've seen what happens when Halladay wants to win.— jlmfl
- regular season wins mean squat now.... just hope the Phils bats show up, we know the pitching is there— peteike
- Oh stop with the alarmist headlines ...they could bring back Stan Musial in his prime and the Phillies are still better. Doesn't mean they can't lose but they are better— Gray Areas
- To be the best, you have to beat the best and the Cardinals are just a better team than the Braves were.— Johnnygunnz
- The one thing that scares me is 3-6. Our season record vs these guys. Only team we lost season series.
And oh yea Reyus is a POS! Way to back into a batting title. Real ballplayers are turning over in their graves.— B.Woods - Maybe the Phillies rotation depth, and record when they start their regular line up could be the "Key"?
This Divisonal Series is theirs to lose, regardless of who's injured. The Phillies have the talent and the will power to finish this off and I believe they will. Everything they've done this season has been sensational.— knowner - The Phillies made short work of the Reds last year and the Reds were the best hitting team in the league. The Phils rotation this year is even better. You can put that in your roladex and twirl it!!!— knowner
- Phils will beat the cards. If not. then they don't deserve it. Go Phils!!!— nickNY
- GO FIGHTINS! A win against the Cards then....gulp.....the Brew-Crew. THAT will be the scarier game but hey! You play to win the game!! GO PHILLIES GO!— Panthro2011
Comment removed.- Why didn't the Phillies do themselves a favor and lose last night?— realzeel
- My biggest worry is Lance Berkman. He is one of those Philly killers that comes up big just after you survive Albert Puhols. On paper, the Cards' pitching looks less than awesome and the Phillies new lineup has no real holes in it. It will be an interesting series and I think the Phillies, depite a poor record against the Cards in the regular season, will win, especially the way the pitching is lined up. The Cards used up their ace last night getting to the series.— gotedge
