Adam Wainwright will start Game 1 of the NLCS for the St. Louis Cardinals despite some uncertainty about his availability for the start of the series.
The St. Louis Cardinals will roll with their regular rotation for the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants, starting with ace Adam Wainwright in the opening game of the series on Saturday in St. Louis.
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It is not entirely clear what ails Wainwright, whether it is his forearm tendinitis flaring back up or some other issue with his throwing arm. Nevertheless, he did not pitch particularly well against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS and the Cardinals hinted that they might use Lance Lynn in Game 1 of the NLCS instead of Wainwright.
On Thursday, manager Mike Matheny announced that it will be Wainwright, with Lynn starting Game 2. From the St. Louis Post Dispatch:
"“Adam Wainwright is our starter,” Matheny said. “I think guys are in a good place right now. They’ve figured out a way to get it done. That’s what we anticipated, because that’s what we’ve seen all season long. They continue to impress — me, at least — with how they fight.”Matheny said Wainwright “has been able to bounce back.”He said the ace is “fine, and we’ll watch him close like everybody else.”"
If we know nothing else about Wainwright, we know he is a gamer. If there is anybody who can wash off a bad start and bounce back for the NLCS, it is him. The question is, will his health stand in the way, and how much of a factor was it in his NLDS Game 1 struggles?
The Cardinals, along with the rest of the baseball world, will watch closely as Wainwright takes the mound opposite Madison Bumgarner on Saturday.