Cardinals activate Peralta and Moss, put Diaz on DL

CINCINNATI (AP) The St. Louis Cardinals got two regulars back from injuries on Tuesday but lost shortstop Aledmys Diaz, sidelined indefinitely by a broken right thumb.

The Cardinals activated Jhonny Peralta and Brandon Moss from the disabled list before the opener of a series in Cincinnati. Peralta started the season on the disabled list recovering from a torn ligament in his left thumb, played in 30 games and went back on the DL. Moss had an injured left ankle.

Diaz was hit by one of Andrew Cashner's pitches during a game in Miami on Sunday. He went on the 15-day disabled list and will need more than two weeks to heal.

The Cardinals also added left-handed reliever Zach Duke, who was obtained in a trade with the White Sox on Sunday. They optioned left-hander Dean Kiekhefer and outfielder Randal Grichuk to Triple-A Memphis.

St. Louis is expecting to get leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter back later this week. He's on a rehab assignment recovering from an oblique injury.

Manager Mike Matheny decided to use Stephen Piscotty in the leadoff spot on Tuesday for the first time this season. He's batted primarily fourth. Piscotty has struggled lately, snapping an 0-for-15 streak on Sunday, so Matheny decided to move him to a different spot temporarily.

''If Stephen was locked in, I doubt he'd be hitting first,'' Matheny said. ''Once we have everybody around, Stephen will be in the middle of the order.''