The return of Brett Cecil from the disabled list to the active roster Wednesday reset the Cardinals’ lefty options and left them without a true specialist, just as Milwaukee’s lefty-dotted lineup is set to arrive. Cecil, who had been out with a foot injury, and Shreve are both lefties with reverse splits — that is, they have greater success against righthanded batters. But one of the reasons Shreve hit for himself Tuesday was to face a run of lefties. He retired three of the four, striking out two.
Cecil, 32, threw four scoreless innings on his rehab assignment with Class AAA Memphis, and he returned the majors, in part, because players can dictate when they’re ready.