Cecil (arm) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday.

EDGE Analysis

As expected, Cecil will open the season on the shelf as he contends with a myriad of issues, including left carpal tunnel syndrome, arm fatigue and erratic mechanics. It's unclear how long the southpaw's stay on the IL will last at this point.

Cecil (arm) is expected to open the season on the injured list, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cecil's issue I s an unspecified arm injury. He pitched a pair of innings early in camp but has since stayed away from game action while working on his mechanics. He lost over 40 pounds over the offseason, which was thought to be the cause of the mechanical issue but hadn't reportedly caused any specific injury.

Cecil is slated to exclusively continue working on his mechanics and is not currently scheduled for any Grapefruit League action, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The news was confirmed by manager Mike Shildt, who labeled the veteran reliever "a work in progress." Cecil struggled with his control in an intrasquad game Thursday, as he continues to adjust mechanically to the significant weight loss he intentionally underwent this offseason. Langosch reports that Cecil's roster spot could be in jeopardy, especially with the promising Alex Reyes making a strong push for a bullpen role. For his part, Shildt wouldn't offer much of an endorsement with respect to job security. "He's an option," Shildt said. "But right now he's getting his work on the backfields, and we are mindful of the fact that the season is getting closer."

Cecil had trouble with his control in Thursday's intrasquad game, Glenn Sattell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran southpaw worked only one inning, but issues with location still led to him getting plenty of work in. Cecil allowed a run without giving up a hit, a relatively improbable feat he accomplished by issuing a walk, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch. Cecil will continue working on his mechanics during what remains of spring while simultaneously trying to add back some of the 40-plus pounds he dropped this offseason.

Cecil will pitch in an intrasquad game Thursday morning on the back fields of the team's spring training complex, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cecil was originally slated to appear in Wednesday's Grapefruit League tilt against the Marlins, but he'll work in Thursday's intrasquad game instead. The veteran southpaw continues to work on both his mechanics and weight gain in anticipation of the regular season. If he irons out the issues that led to a career-worst 6.89 ERA and 1.96 WHIP in 2018, Cecil could serve as a valuable asset against left-handed hitters in the late innings for manager Mike Shildt.

Cecil, who fired a scoreless inning in his return to the mound during a 9-1 Grapefruit League loss to the Mets on Sunday, is working with a nutritionist in an attempt to regain some of the weight he dropped this offseason, Clark Spencer of MLB.com reports. "I knew the weight was going to be down," Cecil said. "But the problem is it kept coming off when I got into spring. Obviously, it's hot and you run around a lot outside [in Spring Training]."

EDGE Analysis

The veteran southpaw lost a total of 42 pounds this offseason in an attempt to improve his overall performance after a forgettable 2018. However, Cecil was dissatisfied with his mechanics after his first spring outing Feb. 27 and took over two weeks off from game action in an attempt to make corrections. Cecil now attributes some of those issues to how light he currently is, so he's seeking to gain 5-10 pounds back with the help of a nutritionist in an attempt to achieve a happy medium.

Cecil had a successful bullpen session Friday in his ongoing quest to refine his mechanics before a return to game action, Glenn Sattell of MLB.com reports. "It went well," manager Mike Shildt said of Friday's workout. "He's slated to get into competition in the next day or two. He's in a great spot across the board. We look forward to getting him out there."

EDGE Analysis

Cecil took a voluntary sabbatical from game action Feb. 27 after noting some flaws with his delivery during his first outing of spring. The veteran southpaw has been working on making tweaks during side sessions since that point, and Shildt's comments lend credence to the notion Cecil is on the verge of a return. After a down 2018 season, Cecil came into camp considerably lighter and is expected to be counted on as a steady set-up option in the coming campaign.

Cecil, who's taking several days off from game action to work on mechanics, threw a side session Sunday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cecil noted some kinks in his delivery after watching video of his most recent appearance and coordinated with manager Mike Shildt to have a few days off to work on correcting his mechanics. The veteran reliever's return to throwing Sunday presumably marks another step on that process and represented his first time working off a mound since last Wednesday. If Cecil's work continues without any setbacks, he'll likely return to game action at some point during the coming week.

Cecil will be kept out of game action until late next week while he works on correcting his mechanics, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports. "He feels good. Everything looks good," manager Mike Shildt said. "We just want a little more time to work on a few things, to sync up some things mechanically that we noticed."

EDGE Analysis

The veteran reliever made his spring debut last Wednesday, allowing a hit over a scoreless inning. Cecil reported feeling arm discomfort after the outing, which he attributed to poor mechanics. After reviewing video of his Wednesday appearance, Cecil feels that he was both leaving the mound too early in his throwing motion and utilizing improper arm positioning when coming set. Cecil underwent a radical physical transformation this offseason in an attempt to bounce back from last season's 6.89 ERA and 1.96 WHIP, dropping 40 pounds through diet and exercise. He'll look to serve as a much more dependable late-inning asset in 2019 behind the expected closer duo of Jordan Hicks and Andrew Miller.

President of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Saturday that Cecil has committed to a training program this offseason that has resulted in significant weight loss and strength gains, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cecil's supposed body transformation doesn't guarantee that he'll emerge as a useful relief asset for St. Louis, but it's at least encouraging that the lefty is switching up his winter training program after he underwhelmed in his first two seasons with the Cardinals. The 32-year-old's sizable contract bodes well for his chances of making the Opening Day roster if healthy, but he'll have to show improved results before inching his way up the bullpen pecking order.