Matt Holliday's sore right hand is feeling better. "I feel pretty good about where I'm at," Holliday said. "I think [the off days] have been beneficial to everybody. One playoff game is similar to playing four regular season games just as far as how taxing mentally and physically they can be." Manager Tony La Russa was noncommittal Tuesday regarding whether he would use Holliday or Lance Berkman as his cleanup hitter going forward. Both have batted fourth and fifth this season. La Russa did say that Berkman would start in right field against C.J. Wilson in Game 1 of the World Series.

Matt Holliday doubled and belted a solo homer in Thursday's NLCS Game 4 loss to the Brewers. Holliday reached base in his first three plate appearances, homered down the left-field line in his first at-bats before walking and then doubling. It's a good sign for a player that didn't have a single postseason extra-base hit coming into the night. Allen Craig also had a solo shot for the Cardinals, but that's all they could muster against Randy Wolf and the Brew Crew.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa indicated that Matt Holliday will remain the No. 5 spot in the batting order for the remainder of the postseason. Holliday is batting .263/.364/.263 this postseason with zero extra-base hits. David Freese is batting cleanup in Game 4 with Lance Berkman getting the night off, and Berkman will be in the cleanup spot from Game 5 on. "(I) gave Matt a lot of thought and he's caught between a rock and a hard place," La Russa said. "I think his hand is all right, but here he is trying to get his stroke and his timing in the most pressure you feel all season, and it's a little bit unfair."

Matt Holliday is receiving ongoing treatment for an inflamed tendon near his right middle finger that includes two therapy sessions a day, as well as laser treatment. The therapy sessions last about 20 minutes each, and the laser treatment, according to Holliday, "supposedly helps healing." Holliday took a shot prior to Game 3 of the NLDS against the Phillies, but he said he's not going to get another one. "That shot pretty much was the worst experience of my life," he said. Holliday describes his condition as "as good as I can be." We'd think he would have to regress significantly to be talked out of an NLCS game. He's playing left field and batting fifth in Game 1.

Matt Holliday took a full round of batting practice Thursday at Citizens Bank Park and said the inflamed tendon in his right middle finger feels better than at any time over the past week. "Hitting is much improved," Holliday said. Unless he has a setback prior to Friday's game, it sounds like there's no doubt the Cardinals' left fielder will be in the lineup for Game 5. He was 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored in his lone start of the series in Game 4.

Matt Holliday (finger) expects to be in the starting lineup for Game 5 of the NLDS against the Phillies on Friday night. Holliday went 1-for-3 with a single, a hit by pitch and two runs scored Thursday in his first start during the NLDS. He is still dealing some discomfort in his right hand, but intends to play through the injury as the Cardinals attempt to keep their season alive.

Matt Holliday (finger) could start Game 4 of the NLDS against the Phillies on Wednesday.

Matt Holliday returned to action Tuesday by singling in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter. With a runner on first and one out, Holliday found a hole in the left side of the infield for a single off Phillies reliever Brad Lidge. He was immediately pulled for pinch-runner Adron Chambers. Holliday felt pain after a pinch-hit at-bat in Game 1, but his troublesome right middle finger began to feel better and St. Louis announced he was available off the bench prior to Tuesday's game.

According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Matt Holliday has not accepted a cortisone injection. Whatever the case, reports are that Holliday's troublesome right middle finger is feeling better and that the Cardinals are beginning to feel optimistic about his status. He's available to pinch-hit Tuesday. Allen Craig is starting in left field.

Matt Holliday (finger) is available to pinch-hit in Game 3 Tuesday night against the Phillies. Holliday was given a cortisone injection in his troublesome right middle finger. He's still having trouble throwing, though, and he felt pain after a pinch-hit at-bat in Game 1. Allen Craig is starting in left field.