Adam Wainwright: A Healthy 2016 Season Awaits

The St. Louis Cardinals won the NL Central for the third straight year. They were ultimately eliminated from the playoffs by rival Chicago Cubs. The team might have had a better chance at winning if they were fully healthy. Besides some of the hitters missing time, the Cardinals were without longtime ace Adam Wainwright for most of the season. He returned late in the season and will be fully healthy for the 2016 season.

More from FanSided

Wainwright failed to make 30 starts for the first time since 2011 when he underwent Tommy John surgery. He was coming off the heels of a great 2014 season. He made 32 starts, finishing with a 20-9 record, 2.38 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 50 walks and 179 strikeout, which earned him an All-Star nod and some Cy Young votes.

He started the 2015 strong. In his first three full starts, he pitched in 21 innings with a 1.71 ERA, 1.95 WHIP and a 4.67:1 K:BB ratio.

Then, tragedy struck. during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Adam Wainwright tore his Achilles. He was pitching a shutout after four innings before the injury. The immediate timetable for a return was nine to 12 months.

Wainwright rehabbed like crazy and returned to the Cardinals bullpen on Sept. 30, just five months later. He made three appearances, three innings, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out two and walking one.

With the Cardinals having to rely on some younger arms this season, the team will gladly make room for Adam Wainwright in the rotation. John Lackey was arguably the team’s best pitcher with a 13-10 record, 2.77 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Jaime Garcia and Carlos Martinez were both good as well. The team will likely move Michael Wacha to the bullpen or demote him in order to make room for Wainwright.

Adam Wainwright was a sixth-round pick in ESPN leagues, 54.4 ADP, as the 14th starting pitcher selected. Looking at the 13 pitchers drafted ahead of him, 14th was a good spot for him.