Holliday out of lineup, but expected back soon

PHOENIX — The Cardinals held Matt Holliday out of the lineup on Tuesday, a day after he exited a game due to cramping in his right leg. His absence, however, is expected to be brief, evidenced by how spry the left fielder looked while participating in pregame defensive drills at Chase Field.

Holliday, at the medical staff’s request, skipped batting practice and took his swings in the indoor cage instead. His on-field activity was limited to first-base fielding exercises, though, at one point, Holliday was stretching to receive throws off the bag.

“He’s bouncing around,” Matheny said as he observed the work. “Looks like a spring chicken.”

It was an encouraging sign for the Cardinals, who opted to proceed with great caution given that the area of cramping was concentrated around the same quad muscle that Holliday tore last season. Recovery from that injury limited Holliday to a career-low 73 games in 2015.

“I don’t think it was any big deal, but I still think, especially this early in the season, we don’t want to risk trying to push it too much,” …

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