Adam Wainwright would not start Game 4 of NLDS for Cardinals

Adam Wainwright is the ace for the St. Louis Cardinals, but he would not be the starter in Game 4 of the NLDS if things went that far.

The St. Louis Cardinals are hoping that their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers will not need four games. If it does, Adam Wainwright will not start Game 4 on short rest.

More from MLB Postseason

When a team has an ace like Wainwright, there is always a temptation to send him out there on short rest for a key game. That decision might be a possibility later for the Cardinals, but it would be unlikely in the NLDS. According to Chad Thornburg of MLB.com:

"“I never want to hem ourselves in here and say that we won’t do something,” Matheny said, “but I think with what we saw yesterday and how hard he’s had to push so far down the stretch here, I think it would be a pretty good stretch to see him go on short rest.”"

The Cardinals are afforded a luxury that few teams are when it comes to their rotation. Their fourth best option is probably better than the second best option for many teams. When you have an ace like Wainwright, you want to take advantage of having him when your team plays in a big spot. That said, you also want to make sure to understand your investment in him as an ace so as to not put him in a bad situation.

Wainwright struggled in Game 1, failing to make it out of the sixth inning and surrendering six earned runs.

Perhaps the Cardinals would change their mind in the event of a possible Game 4, but given Wainwright’s struggles in the opening game, it seems like the right call to keep the ace on his normal rest.

Adam Wainwright is the ace for the St. Louis Cardinals, but he would not be the starter in Game 4 of the NLDS if things went that far.

More from FanSided