Fantasy Baseball Insiders

St. Louis Cardinals’ outfielder Matt Holliday is out indefinitely following an appendectomy on Friday.

The team has not yet set a timetable for his return, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes it usually takes 4-to-6 weeks before a player can begin “strenuous activity.”

Holliday’s absence will create a giant hole in the Cardinals’ and fantasy lineups alike. The St. Louis cleanup hitter went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI on Opening Day.

In the meantime, Jon Jay and Allen Craig will fill in for him in left field. From a fantasy perspective, they offer some value in deep and N.L.-only leagues.

Jay, a left-handed hitter, compiled a .301 average over 1,564 career min0r-league at-bats before his first taste of big league action last season. The 26-year-old offers a high average, but limited power/speed potential potential, as made evident by his 2010 line with St. Louis: 47 runs, four home runs, two steals, .300 average in 287 at-bats, mostly from the two-hole.

Craig, also 26, offers much better power potential. In 1,906 career minor league at-bats, Craig hit 90 HRs with a .308 batting clip. In his first big league action in 2010, he hit .246 with four HRs in 114 at-bats.

The Cardinals have an off day today, but will resume action tomorrow at home against Padres’ southpaw Clayton Richard. For what it’s worth, Jay (a lefty) hit southpaws to the tune of .308 last season. Craig struggled against lefties, batting just .208.

Image courtesy of: Kyle Kielty

Fantasy Baseball Insiders’ 2011 Big Board:

• 2011 Big Board: The Top 100 Players

2011 Position Rankings:

• Catcher
• First Base
• Second Base
• Third Base
• Shortstop
• Outfield
• Starting Pitcher

Latest from Fantasy Baseball Insiders: 

• Panic Over John Axford’s Opening Day Blown Save?
• Opening Day Waiver Wire Fliers
• 2011 All-Breakout Team
• Prospect Report: Giants’ Brandon Belt Wins Starting Job
• The Top 10 Rookies in 2011
• 2011 Closer’s Corner: 16 MLB Teams Have a New Source for Saves
• 2011 Closer’s Corner: Papelbon, Cordero & Rivera Are the Only Reliable Options
• The Verducci Effect: Why 11 Pitchers 25-and-Younger May Regress
• 2011 MLB Team-By-Team Spring Training  Injury Report

30 Teams in 30 Days Fantasy Preview:

• Baltimore Orioles
• Boston Red Sox

Previous articles from Fantasy Baseball Insiders: 

• Sleeper Alert: Danny Espinosa
• Keeper Conundrum: Bryce Harper or Mike Trout?
• The Sub-2.50 ERA Curse: Why Five Elite Starting Pitchers May Regress in 2011
• 2010 Batting Average on Balls in Play Leaders: What to Expect in 2011?