Matt Holliday (hip) is serving as the Cardinals' designated hitter Tuesday against the Tigers. Allen Craig is playing left field and Carlos Beltran is in right for St. Louis' series-opener in Detroit. Holliday is dealing with an uncomfortable hip flexor condition but is apparently prepared to play on through it.

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Matt Holliday is dealing with a "hip flexor condition." Holliday was removed in the ninth inning of Sunday's loss to the Royals due to leg discomfort related to the hip ailment. He is expected to avoid the disabled list but may need extra rest this week. The Cardinals open a three-game series against the Tigers on Tuesday night.

Matt Holliday left Sunday's game in ninth inning with a persistent leg condition. Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the ailment has bothered Holliday for a month and worsened, "or at least flared anew," on Sunday. St. Louis has issued no further information on the mysterious ailment. If Holliday needs time off, expect Allen Craig to take over left field and Matt Adams to get more run at first base.

Matt Holliday paced the Cardinals' offensive attack in their 10-7 victory over the Royals on Saturday, going 4-for-5 with a homer, two doubles and five RBI. Holliday also scored a pair of runs in the impressive performance. He blasted a two-run homer off Bruce Chen in the first inning, then added an RBI double off him in the second inning. Holliday's RBI single in the seventh tied the game at 7-7, and he tacked on an RBI double in the eighth inning to ice the win. While his .278 average isn't quite what we've come to expect, he's providing solid run production with 11 homers and 40 RBI on the year.

Matt Holliday returned to action on Tuesday June 12.

Matt Holliday (back) is back in the Cardinals' starting lineup on Tuesday night against the White Sox. Holliday was held out of action on Saturday and Sunday due to back spasms. He took advantage of Monday's off day to rest up, then felt fine during pregame batting practice Tuesday evening. The left fielder is hitting .276/.362/.458.

Matt Holliday (back) is not in the Cardinals' lineup Sunday. As expected. Holliday has now missed two straight starts due to back spasms, but he seems to have a good chance of returning Tuesday following Monday's off day. Allen Craig is taking his spot in left field.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny doesn't expect Matt Holliday (back) to return to the lineup Sunday. Holliday's back spasms don't seem like a big deal, but the Cards likely just want to play it safe with an off day Monday, which would give him three consecutive days of rest. Expect to see Allen Craig in left field and Matt Adams at first base Sunday against Ubaldo Jimenez and the Indians.

Matt Holliday hit home run number 10 in Thursday's 10-9 loss to the Phillies. It was his only hit, although he added two walks to the effort. Last season, Holliday's 10th homer came on June 28. While his .271 batting average remains more than 40 points below his career mark, Holliday's power display has put him on track to reach the 30-homer plateau for the first time since 2007.

Matt Holliday is not in the Cardinals' lineup Sunday. It's his first day off this season. Holliday has hit into some tough luck, but overall he hasn't quite been himself this season, batting .257/.336/.449 with six homers. He's due to go on a prolonged hot streak before long, and perhaps it will come after he gets a breather. Allen Craig is playing left field in his place. Yadier Molina is also getting a day off, with Tony Cruz playing in his place.