The Cardinals have another veteran catcher back on their roster after activating Matt Wieters from the 10-day injured list before Friday’s series opener against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Wieters broke his left big toe the last time the Cards were in Chicago, on Aug. 19. After spending the past week participating in baseball activities, Wieters is recovered and ready to be a switch-hitting bat off the bench.

In a corresponding move, the Cardinals optioned catcher Andrew Knizner to the alternate training site. The 25-year-old will stay on the taxi squad through this weekend’s series against the Cubs. Knizner had seen scarce playing time since Yadier Molina returned from his positive COVID-19 test, but the rookie did enter Tuesday’s game against the Reds and had two singles and two RBIs.

“Well, Kiz got a chance to play early on, but yeah, Yadi got back and he’s the center of our universe behind the plate,” manager Mike Shildt said. “Wiety’s back. Good presence, has still been available to be a good steward for the guys, and he’s a strong guy in our clubhouse. Now he’s officially back on the field, and we’ll go from there.”

The Cardinals have more moves coming this weekend as they navigate their pitching staff during the five-game series, including a doubleheader Saturday that allows for a 29th man on the roster.

Reliever Andrew Miller (left shoulder soreness) joined the team in Chicago and will likely be activated Saturday. The lefty threw two bullpens at Busch Stadium earlier this week and generated positive feedback after each one.

Pitching plans at Wrigley
The Cardinals are throwing all five of their starters against the Cubs this weekend.

After Jack Flaherty faces Yu Darvish in Friday’s opener, Adam Wainwright and Dakota Hudson will pitch Game 1 and Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader, respectively. The Cardinals will bat in the bottom of the inning for Game 2 because it’s the final makeup game from the series that was supposed to take place at Busch Stadium in early August.

The Cards will finish out the series with lefty Kwang Hyun Kim on Sunday and righty Johan Oviedo on Monday.

The decision to use all five starters this weekend allows the Cardinals to throw their strength at their division rival and gives them more flexibility in their bullpen usage -- a luxury they didn’t have during the last trip to Chicago, when starters were just being built up after the 17-day layoff.

“It allows normalcy in an abnormal world,” Shildt said. “We had it the last five games or so where you had that normal combination of starters built up and then going deeper into games, which allows you to use your bullpen in a more traditional fashion.”

It also likely leaves the Cardinals without any of their regular starters for Tuesday’s doubleheader against Minnesota. Carlos Martínez (COVID-19 injured list) is being built back up as a starter and is a “heavy pencil” to start one of those games, Shildt said.

Daniel Ponce de Leon, who was optioned after his last start, threw a bullpen session Friday, so he could be on turn for one of those games -- or one of Thursday’s doubleheader games against the Tigers -- as well.

Worth noting
• Right-hander Jesus Cruz, who was designated for assignment on Tuesday, cleared waivers and has been assigned to the Cardinals' alternate training site. Cruz helped the Cards return to the field after the coronavirus outbreak and provided needed innings in the bullpen during their first trip to Chicago in August.