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St. Louis Cardinals: Projecting the playoff rotation

By Mark Powell

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 21: Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright #50 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 21, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 21: Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright #50 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 21, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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After initially looking like a potential weakness should they even make it to the National League playoffs, the Cardinals rotation is quite strong.

Winners of 10 straight games, the St. Louis Cardinals should and likely are scaring the upper echelon of the National League. The Cards are in line to win the second Wild Card spot, and travel on the road to either Los Angeles or San Francisco for the Wild Card game, depending on who wins the NL West.

Jack Flaherty was tabbed the Cardinals ace to start the season, and he has the potential to pitch like that on any given night. But the experience of both Adam Wainwright and Jon Lester also makes them valuable assets of a playoff rotation.

St. Louis Cardinals: What would the playoff rotation look like?

Flaherty is set to pitch against the Cubs in his return from the injured list this week. He, Wainwright and Lester are seemingly locks for the top-3. After them, a fourth between Miles Mikolas, who has missed the majority of the season, and Jake Woodford, whose promising stats in just six starts have some Cardinals fans buzzing, would have to be decided.

Given his experience, my money is on Mikolas, but with a short leash. Wainwright, who has been excellent the entire season, should pitch the Wild Card Game.

Next. Cardinals DFA pitcher who talked back to Yadier Molina. dark

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