ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals outfielder Reggie Sanders, 37, might miss a month or more because of a broken bone in his right leg.

Sanders was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday, three days after he collided with center fielder Jim Edmonds as they chased a flyball. Tests Sunday showed that Sanders has a hairline fracture of his right fibula that team doctors estimate could keep him out four to six weeks.

"I feel like I played football for a couple of days," Sanders said. "You look at all the dynamics and it's not what I wanted, but here it is."

Sanders was second on the Cardinals with 18 home runs, third with 44 RBIs and first with 14 stolen bases in 15 attempts. He had been chasing his first career 30-30 season.

It is just the latest injury for the Cardinals, who are fortunate to have a double-digit lead in the National League Central Division.

"There's never a decent cushion," manager Tony La Russa said. "You have one bad week, nobody's talking about a cushion."

Catcher Yadier Molina is on the disabled list, and third baseman Scott Rolen had strength tests yesterday on his surgically repaired left shoulder. Rolen has played well defensively since returning in mid-June, but had been in a 1-for-26 slump before a run-scoring double against Roger Clemens in a 3-0 victory against Houston Sunday.

"I think they kind of just wanted to make sure," Rolen said. "Obviously, I've struggled and had some pain, missed an All-Star Game. I understand I had surgery and there's going to be a little grace period, but I had anticipated I would be full strength or getting close to full strength."

Rolen was out of the lineup last night because of pain and soreness associated with an arthrogram, in which dye was injected into the affected area. He expects to return to the lineup today.

Molina hasn't played since his left hand was broken when he was hit by a pitch July 7, and was placed on the disabled list retroactively Sunday.

Sanders didn't play after the collision with Edmonds in the first inning Friday night, the first game for the Cardinals after the All-Star break. The injury occurred near where a plate and several screws were inserted in his ankle after an injury in 1989.

"Where the bone and plate meets is where his knee ran into me," Sanders said. "That was like the most fragile area. It's just freaky how it all happened."

Edmonds said he was shocked by the contact, and hadn't anticipated Sanders taking that angle at the ball. He said it was the first significant outfield collision of his career. Sanders caught the ball but never called for it, also puzzling Edmonds.

"I was starting to think about diving for it when he ran into me," Edmonds said.

St. Louis purchased the contract of left-handed hitting outfielder John Rodriguez from Class AAA Memphis. Rodriguez, 27, was batting .342 with 17 homers and 47 RBIs in 34 games at Memphis after being acquired from Cleveland in June.

The run, featuring four grand slams, was deemed worthy of immediate playing time. La Russa had Rodriguez batting second last night.

"It's incredible how hot he's been," La Russa said. "It's a good time to come up."

Rodriguez, who has played primarily center field and right field, will be making his major-league debut.