Cards ready to get back in the game

The Cardinals returned to the field for light workouts Wednesday, nearly a week after a coronavirus outbreak forced the club and its staff members to quarantine in Milwaukee.

Manager Mike Shildt called it “a breath of fresh air” after five days spent in the Pfister Hotel, where players tried to keep their arms limber by throwing baseballs into mattresses and pillows. The Cardinals had returned 13 positive tests in their traveling party, seven of them players, forcing them to suspend their season.

They were finally cleared to travel back to St. Louis late Tuesday, when they returned negative tests for the second straight day. Their flight left Wednesday morning and that gave them the afternoon and Thursday to get in workouts.

The Cardinals will resume their season against the Cubs on Friday at Busch Stadium.

“You can’t take for granted even the freedom we have in a somewhat limitedfreedom world when you’re in a hotel room for six straight days and you get outside,” Shildt said on a conference call. “It’s a nice feeling to feel that sun, and move around, and get a little sweat going and see the guys enjoying their workout.”

Ohtani update: Angels twoway player Shohei Ohtani, who had Tommy John surgery in 2018 and won’t pitch again this season after two outings because of a right forearm strain, said he is determined to get back on the mound.

“If the possibility is there, I still want to try it,” Ohtani, the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year after batting .285 with 22 homers, said of pitching. “The Angels signed me thinking I’m going to be a twoway player. I just need to get healthy, back on the mound and try to accomplish it.”

Ohtani was 42 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts in 2018.

Injury report: Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle had Tommy John surgery, ending his season . ... Pittsburgh reliever Nick Burdi, who is dealing with an elbow injury, was placed on the 45day injured list . ... Among the players heading to the 10day IL are Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies (wrist) and first baseman Matt Adams (hamstring), White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal (shoulder) and Kansas City pitcher Glenn Sparkman (forearm strain).

Briefly: Atlanta activated outfielder Nick Markakis from the restricted list. He originally planned to sit out the season because of coronavirus concerns . ... The Mets acquired righthander Ariel Jurado from the Rangers for a player to be named and cash considerations.