"The Cardinals have postponed a potential roster move until later this week to better determine if left fielder Matt Holliday might avoid a trip to the disabled list altogether following a Friday appendectomy.

Holliday was discharged from Barnes-Jewish West on Saturday morning after undergoing a laproscopic procedure made necessary when he experienced mounting pain after the team's opening-day loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday. Holliday contributed three hits in the 11-inning game but by early Friday morning was in acute pain.

General manager John Mozeliak said the club hoped to make a determination during the upcoming series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "That will be a much better gauge to decide how he's coming along in the process," he said.

Mozeliak described Friday's procedure as relatively simple based on information offered by team medical supervisor Dr. George Paletta and head athletic trainer Greg Hauck. Holliday's appendix did not burst and a less complex surgery left open Holliday's possible return in time for the club to potentially play short for up to 10 days.

"That's an option," Mozeliak said.

The Cardinals played short for extended stretches last summer and would willingly sacrifice a fifth bench player for more than a week if guaranteed Holliday for several days.

Recalling a player from Class AAA Memphis would also set off a chain reaction of player movement before the Redbirds' Thursday opener at AutoZone Park.

"Obviously we're going to miss him; hopefully, not for too long," first baseman Albert Pujols said. "When you look at the lineup, you expect Matt to be there, but he won't be there for a week or so."

Manager Tony La Russa gave Allen Craig Saturday's start in left field while employing third baseman David Freese in Holliday's cleanup spot; right fielder Lance Berkman is expected to hit cleanup today when the Cardinals face righthander Dustin Moseley. Craig contributed a two-run single in his first plate appearance Saturday to give the Cardinals a brief lead."