Wanted: Starting first baseman for the Cardinals

PITTSBURGH -- Brandon Moss started the final two games of the season-opening, three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but that doesn't mean the St. Louis Cardinals' first base situation is settled.

Moss and fellow left-handed hitter Matt Adams entered spring training in competition for the starting job. However, neither impressed, and the Cardinals used career outfielder Matt Holliday at first base in Grapefruit League games.

In fact, Holliday started at first in the opener Sunday, the first time he played the position officially in his 13-year career. However, Holliday played just one inning at first before being needed back in his usual left field spot when Tommy Pham left the game due to a strained left oblique. Adams played the remainder of that game at first base.

Pham was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday and is expected to miss approximately a month. Thus, Holliday is again the regular left fielder, but manager Mike Matheny isn't ready to commit to either Moss or Adams as the starting first baseman.

Matheny also isn't ruling out the idea of giving Holliday some time at first base in order to rest his 36-year-old legs. Holliday was limited to 73 games last season because of quadriceps injuries.

"I think it's just coming down to who is more comfortable where," Matheny said. "You could go either way with that. I know that Holliday has played a lot of outfield in this outfield. And we know Moss is, in our minds, a more experienced defender at first. There's just more comfort at this point in the season, but we won't hesitate to throw (Holliday) back at first either."

Moss went 1-for-3 Wednesday in the Cardinals' 5-1 loss, leaving him 1-for-8 for the season. Adams, who struck out in his lone Wednesday at-bat, is 0-for-6.