Holliday scratched with neck, back stiffness

ANAHEIM -- For the second straight game, manager Mike Matheny was forced to make a late change to his starting lineup. On Tuesday, it was Matt Holliday who, due to neck and upper-back stiffness, had to be pulled out.

Holliday told reporters, through a team spokesperson, that the stiffness started about the time he arrived at the ballpark. Matheny said it was bothersome enough to preclude Holliday from taking any swings during the team's pregame work.

"He can't turn his head," Matheny said. "He's ridiculously tough, so when he can't go out there and do something, it's not [minor]. He takes a lot of pride in days most guys wouldn't play, he plays. It's something he takes very seriously."

The need to unplug Holliday left Matheny to shuffle several parts of his lineup. Carlos Beltran, initially slated to serve as the designated hitter, moved to right field. Allen Craig shifted to left; David Freese became the team's DH; and Daniel Descalso was inserted to play third base.

Heading into Tuesday, Holliday had started 75 of the team's 81 games. Only Yadier Molina -- who started his 76th game on Tuesday -- has made more starts.