ST. LOUIS — Matt Holliday is replacing St. Louis Cardinals teammate Yadier Molina on the National League All-Star team.

Molina was placed on the bereavement list Friday after his wife’s grandfather died. The team said the catcher had returned to his native Puerto Rico.

Holliday was one of the hottest hitters in the majors entering the final weekend before the break, batting .500 with four home runs, 21 RBIs and 10 doubles over the last 18 games. The outfielder was batting .318 overall with 14 homers, 56 RBIs and a .397 on-base average.

“He deserved to be there and I think that’s really the end of the story for me,” manager Mike Matheny said before the Cardinals hosted the Marlins. “He’s an All-Star player.”