Phillies vs. Cardinals: Matt Holliday's Hand Injury Spells Doom for St. Louis

In a game in which Chris Carpenter allowed four runs in just three innings pitched, the St. Louis Cardinals found a way to steal a victory from the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. But things will get more difficult for the Cards as they move on in the series without Matt Holliday.

According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the chances of Holliday starting any of the remaining games is remote, and because of the pain he is feeling in his hand, which he aggravated in a game against the Astros last week, it is unlikely that he will even be able to pinch-hit.

"(Cardinals GM John) Mozeliak didn't dispute a more pessimistic outlook but hoped that [Monday's] examination and almost 48 hours between games might allow enough time for incremental improvement. The club insists the condition will not require surgery following the season but concedes that there is little hope for marked improvement without an extended rest."

Holliday's presence in the lineup is critical for the Cardinals to succeed in a series against the Phillies, or any team they might play if they manage to advance.

The Cardinals were able to win Game 2 thanks to an impressive performance from the bullpen and the offensive heroics of Rafael Furcal, Jon Jay and Ryan Theriot.

The Cardinals lineup, even with Holliday, is incredibly thin. They have three great hitters—Holliday, Lance Berkman and Albert Pujols—and a bunch of below-average hitters filling out the other five spots.

Now, with Holliday likely done for the series, more pressure falls on Pujols and Berkman. They are capable of handling it, but against a pitching staff as good as the Phillies you need everyone firing on all cylinders to score more than one run against them.

It is not impossible for the Cardinals to win the series without Holliday. But the light is fading on the season without their star left fielder able to be in the lineup.

The Cardinals were already at a disadvantage coming into the series against the Phillies because they had to start their best pitcher—Carpenter—on the last day of the season just to get in the playoffs. And without their second-best hitter, things are looking worse for the Cardinals as this series moves on.