Cardinals' Holliday diagnosed with Grade 2 quad strain, placed on 15-day DL

The St. Louis Cardinals placed outfielder Matt Holliday on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, the team announced.

Holliday underwent an MRI after reinjuring his right quad in the first inning of Wednesday's loss to the Cincinnati Reds, and has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 quad strain. General manager John Mozeliak is optimistic, however, that his left fielder will return before the end of the season.

The seven-time All-Star returned to the lineup July 17 after spending more than a month on the DL with a right quad strain.

"We were giving him the freedom that if he felt something, he should back off," manager Mike Matheny said after Wednesday's game, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. "Push as he could push. We didn't see anything that was leading in the direction that we thought this would reoccur if he was able to monitor what it felt like. But that didn't work."

The club subsequently recalled shortstop Greg Garcia from Triple-A Memphis, while first baseman Dan Johnson was designated for assignment.

St. Louis acquired veteran outfielder Brandon Moss from the Cleveland Indians on Thursday to fill the void while Holliday recovers.