Michael Wacha expects to make his next scheduled start
By Hayden Kane
Already fighting to overcome a slow start to the 2014 season and reclaim their status as the class of the National League Central, the St. Louis Cardinals received a scare this week when a foul ball line drive struck young starting pitcher Michael Wacha in the right elbow.
Wacha had everything checked out on Thursday with his sore arm. The good news is that it sounds like no damage was done and the right-hander is on track to make his next scheduled start. As Wacha put it (quoted on MLB.com):
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"Everything feels good. I have all the range of motion and everything that I was looking for…As far as I know, I’m on track. The arm feels great and I just have the normal soreness after pitching yesterday.”"
As a team the Cardinals have been offensively challenged thus far in 2014. Until that part of the team gets back on track they will have to ride the work of Adam Wainwright, Wacha, and the rest of their pitching staff. It has to be a huge relief for the team, then, that they do not have to consider alternative plans for Wacha’s spot in the rotation.
So far in 2014 Wacha has been stellar, going 3-3 with a 2.54 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. His next scheduled start is at the beginning of next week against the New York Yankees.