HOUSTON • Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday elected to have surgery to speed the healing process within his fractured some thumb so that he could have the possibility of returning to the team this season.

Manager Mike Matheny outlined the decision Tuesday with the media saying it was his understanding that Holliday would not play again this year without trying the surgery.

Holliday said that the doctors he spoke with suggested that surgery was his best option for a quicker return.

The surgery is set for Tuesday.

Once doctors have gone in inside and placed a pin or screw in the fractured area the team and Holliday will have a better sense of his timetable for return. The incision will have to heal, of course, and there will be the added time to recover grip strength.

Earlier story ...

Two separate and unrelated surgeries this week will influence the Cardinals for the remainder of this season and possibly seasons to come.