ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Cardinals are making the best of the All-Star break with outfielder Matt Holliday, who they believe just needs a little more time to recover from a strained hamstring.

Holliday was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, retroactive to July 12. The No. 3 hitter had already missed four games after getting hurt on July 11.

“It was that missing 10-20 percent where he still felt a little something,” Manager Mike Matheny said.

The team purchased the contract of first baseman/outfielder Brock Peterson, a Pacific Coast League All-Star at Triple-A Memphis, in time for Saturday night’s game against the Padres. Carlos Beltran batted third.

The 33-year-old Holliday, a career .310 hitter, is batting .268 with 13 home runs and 47 RBI.

NATIONALS: Left-hander Ross Detwiler will miss at least two more starts as he deals with lower back strain.

The Nationals anticipated that Detwiler would return from the DL after the All-Star break, restoring the team’s regular five-man rotation. Instead, Taylor Jordan will remain with the club and start Tuesday against Pittsburgh.

Detwiler is 2-7 with a 4.04 ERA. He has struggled since returning last month from a stint on the DL for a right oblique strain.

YANKEES: Outfielder Zoilo Almonte, who left Friday’s 4-2 loss to Boston in the fifth inning, was placed on the 15-day DL because of a sprained left ankle.

New York also designated shortstop Alberto Gonzalez for assignment on Saturday and brought up two minor leaguers to replace him and Almonte.

ROCKIES: Colorado placed right-hander Rafael Betancourt on the DL after the closer had his appendix removed Friday and recalled righty Mitchell Boggs from Double-A Tulsa on Saturday to take Betancourt’s place in the bullpen.

Betancourt, who is 2-3 with a 3.16 ERA and 15 saves in 16 chances, could miss three weeks.

BLUE JAYS: Carlos Delgado said he’s “completely honored” that Toronto is adding him to its Level of Excellence.

The Puerto Rican slugger, who played parts of 12 seasons in Toronto, will become the 10th person to have his name added to the facade inside Rogers Centre in a ceremony before Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay.