The St. Louis Cardinals’ run of injuries and other negative vibes keeps recurring. The club announced slugger Matt Holliday(notes) will undergo an appendectomy Friday.

Holliday hit a home run in the Cards’ opener Thursday and started to feel discomfort that evening at home. The pain apparently worsened and he saw a doctor Friday morning.

General manager John Mozeliak said the club would wait at least 24 hours before making a roster move.

Here’s what Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote:

“We’ll make a determination. It could be something like six or seven days, it could be more,” Mozeliak said. “We don’t know at this point. We certainly will know more later.”

[...]

“They got it early, which is good,” Mozeliak said.

The team did not set out a timetable for Holliday’s return. The extent of the surgery will determine the length of recovery and a return to “strenuous activity.” The fact that the appendix did not burst is a factor in determining his return, the club confirmed.

Andres Torres(notes) of the Giants had an appendectomy in September and missed 10 games, though he later said he had been experiencing pain for weeks, and might have rushed back a bit.

So, it could be worse for the Cardinals — except it’s already been bad.

They lost co-ace right-hander Adam Wainwright(notes) to Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. And infielder Nick Punto(notes) is on the DL because of a sports hernia.

They also experienced some negative vibes regarding the future of Albert Pujols(notes) during spring training when his deadline passed without a contract extension. Last, but certainly not least, one of the team’s owners — Drew Baur — died in February. It’s been an unhappy season so far.

Taking a look at their options, the other outfielders on the roster include Lance Berkman(notes), Colby Rasmus(notes), Allen Craig(notes) and Jon Jay(notes). Infielders Skip Schumaker(notes) and Tyler Greene(notes) also have varying degrees of experience in the outfield. Nick Stavinoha(notes), a reserve in 2010, is at Class AAA Memphis.

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Related: Adam Wainwright, Matt Holliday, Colby Rasmus, Tyler Greene, Nick Punto, Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman, St. Louis Cardinals

(Sports Network) – The St. Louis Cardinals won’t have Matt Holliday in their lineup this afternoon or the forseeable future, as they resume their season- opening three-game series against the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis announced on Friday that the outfielder was to undergo an appendectomy Friday and that there was no timetable for his return.

The Holliday news comes on the heels of heartbreaking loss on Opening Day for the Cardinals, who watched closer Ryan Franklin blow a one-run lead in the ninth before losing 5-3 in 11 innings.

Cameron Maybin tied the game in the ninth for San Diego with a solo home run then hit a 2-1 sinker to right field in the 11th to set Chase Headley in motion. Headley started from first and advanced to third on the hit, then raced home when Cardinals shortstop Ryan Theriot mishandled the throw from the outfield, giving the Padres a 4-3 lead.

San Diego tacked on another run after that and Heath Bell closed it out in the 11th. Pat Neshek (1-0) earned the win for getting through the 10th unscathed.

“I noticed the ball got through when I was going from first to third,” Headley said. “I saw the ball was going to bounce and I took a little shuffle, and when I saw the kick I just made a play and was fortunate to get in there.”

Bryan Augenstein (0-1) got the loss for allowing two runs on three hits in the 11th.

Holliday actually went 3-for-4 with two RBI in the loss, while Albert Pujols, who may have started his final Opening Day in a Cardinals uniform, ended 0- for-5 and grounded into three double plays.

Getting the call for the Padres this afternoon will be Clayton Richard, who made a career-best 33 starts last season, going 14-9 with a 3.75 earned run average over 201 1/3 innings pitched.

Richard’s season was highlighted by an 8-1 stretch from June 25-August 24.

Opposing him will be veteran right-hander Jake Westbrook, who was 4-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 12 starts for the Cardinals last season after being acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline. He had been 4-8 with a 6.55 ERA in 18 starts for the Tribe.

Westbrook, though, was roughed up this spring, surrendering 12 runs in 24 1/3 innings.

St. Louis was 4-3 against the Padres last season.

The Sports Network