St. Louis Cardinals SS Jhonny Peralta could miss up to three months

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta might miss up to three months because of a left thumb injury he suffered on Saturday.

Peralta tore a ligament, according to general manager John Mozeliak, who added results of an MRI were "not positive."

Mozeliak said Peralta felt discomfort after fielding a grounder, but "didn't think it was to this level."

The Cardinals will proceed cautiously with the 33-year-old Peralta, who batted .275 with 17 homers and 71 RBIs last season. He played in 155 games last year and 157 the season before.

"We have some history with this with Yadi (Yadier Molina)," Mozeliak told reporters. "We've got to determine what this next step looks like."

Jedd Gyorko is a likely replacement for Peralta. In the past three seasons with the San Diego Padres, Gyorko has averaged 16 homers.

Other options are Greg Garcia and Aledmys Diaz.