LOS ANGELES -- Three days after throwing 58 pitches in a rehab start with Double-A Springfield, lefty Tyler Lyons joined the Cardinals Tuesday in Los Angeles, where he was activated from the 10-day disabled list before the series opener against the Dodgers.
In a corresponding move, the Cards optioned right-hander Sam Tuivailala back to Triple-A Memphis.
Over the three rehab outings, Lyons gave up 11 runs and 13 hits in 11 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
"I think I feel good with where I'm at," Lyons said. "I feel good with my pitches. I think my body is a lot closer to where I wanted it to be. I think it's just one of those things that will keep getting better."
It was Lyons' second stint on the disabled list this year, as he spent the first few weeks of the season recovering from left knee surgery. Lyons made two appearances for the Cardinals.
Lyons' return gives the Cards a third left-hander in the bullpen and a reliever who can throw multiple innings. How he'll be used, manager Mike Matheny said, will be dependent upon circumstances. His role could range from lefty specialist to long reliever.
"I think we're just going to have to get him in there and see," Matheny said.
As for Tuivailala, he continues to yo-yo between St. Louis and Memphis. In 10 outings this season spanning 11 innings, the 24-year-old was 2-1 with a 3.27 ERA and eight strikeouts.
"I thought that this was, by far, his best stay with us," Matheny said. "When you have players with options, you have the ability for them to go continue to get work [in the Minors]. There are some things he needs to continue to work on, but all in all, it was a great showing for him."

Cherre on top
Cardinals traveling secretary Charles "C.J." Cherre celebrated his 40th anniversary with the Cardinals on Tuesday. Cherre joined the organization in 1977 as an employee in the group sales department. Two years later, he transitioned into a public relations role and then took over as traveling secretary in 1981.
"What a great accomplishment to stay in this game in any capacity for that long," Matheny said. "He's the guy behind the scenes that makes a lot of things happen, takes care of a lot of issues, A to Z. He's been my go-to guy since I was able to get this job."
Worth noting
• Though he was not in Tuesday's lineup, Kolten Wong has been cleared to play after suffering a minor elbow injury on Saturday. Wong said that he felt a pop in his elbow while taking swings on the on-deck circle and was told by the medical staff that a tendon in his elbow had been briefly displaced.
"I was kind of nervous," Wong said. "But after we did some things, it self-corrected and popped back in again."
• Making his second start since coming off the disabled list, John Gant scattered three hits and two walks over four scoreless innings in Triple-A Memphis' 9-0 win on Monday.
• Double-A Springfield swept the Texas League Pitcher and Player of the Week honors for the week of May 15-21. Anthony Garcia was named the league's top hitter after going 9-for-23 with four doubles, two homers, 10 RBIs and six runs. Starter Matt Pearce earned the recognition by going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 16 innings.