TAMPA, Fla. • The shortstop the Cardinals brought in to cover for an injured shortstop is now an uncertainty himself three days before the season opener.
Ruben Tejada left Thursday's game after the second inning with a muscle strain in his left quadriceps muscle. The injury was not immediately clear because the Cardinals intended to get Tejada some playing time and then quickly shift to shortstop Greg Garcia, who had to test a sore knee in the game.
Tejada will be re-evaluated Friday, an official said.
He likely injured the leg when trying to run out a groundball at the end of the second inning.