Cardinals activate RHP Holland (hip) from DL

The St. Louis Cardinals activated right-hander Greg Holland prior to Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Holland (right hip impingement) was placed on the 10-day disabled list on May 26.

Right-hander Matt Bowman was placed on the DL. Bowman is dealing with blisters on his index and middle fingers of his throwing hand.

Holland, 32, was signed to be the club's closer, but that job currently belongs to right-hander Bud Norris. Holland was just 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in 18 appearances prior to going on the DL.

St. Louis manager Mike Matheny had no clear definition of Holland's role to share when he met with reporters prior to Tuesday's game.

"Obviously we feel pretty good about the eighth and the ninth right now, and we have other guys stepping up in that seventh inning," Matheny said. "For him and (Brett) Cecil both, they are guys who have had a lot of success but haven't looked quite right up to this point. We'll try to get them opportunities, but every game seems so tight. We'll go with what our best bolt is right now."

Holland, who tied for a National League-best 41 saves with the Colorado Rockies in 2017, signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Cardinals on the eve of the season.

He never found his groove with the team and has given up 20 hits and 15 walks in just 13 1/3 innings. But due to the price of his contract and his track record (186 career saves), he figures to get another shot at closing games at some point this season.

"I see Holland still one click away from being the kind of pitcher we know he can be. That's going to be a valuable piece for us," Matheny said. "The seventh is important. ... It would be great to have Holland as part of that conversation."

Bowman took the loss on Monday when he allowed Aaron Altherr's two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the 10th as the Phillies recorded a 6-5 victory. Bowman is 0-2 with a 5.75 ERA in 20 appearances.

--Field Level Media