JUPITER, Fla. • The way Cardinals manager Mike Shildt sees his lineup as opening day approaches is with two names in two spots in ink, riveted in place and ready for the other names to rise and fall around them.
Matt Carpenter, once he returns from a sore back, will be the team's leadoff hitter and Marcell Ozuna is the cleanup hitter.
Ozuna, who entered the Cardinals camp as a question because of the health of his right shoulder and the weight he put on over winter, has been cleared for opening day and will be the cleanup hitter in Milwaukee, the manager said Thursday.