The tables are set. The rematch of the 2012 NLCS starts this Saturday night. With the Cardinals wrapping up Game 4 of the NLDS yesterday, Adam Wainwright will get some extra rest for Saturday night’s start against the San Francisco Giants. Had there been a Game 5 of the NLDS, Waino was said to have gotten the start. However, recent elbow issues have come up again. His second half struggles of tendinitis and discomfort around his right elbow seem to be coming back. But the Cardinals and Matheny have expressed that he would have still started Game 5, and will definitely start Game 1 of the NLCS.
If the Birds seem to think that Wainwright won’t have the capabilities to go deep into the game, Lance Lynn will be ready as the other option to start, not to mention Michael Wacha and Carlos Martinez as viable starters later in the series if for some reason Waino is a no go. But, let’s face it, this is Adam Wainwright. Even if he was feeling discomfort in his elbow, he still finished the regular season with an exclamation point by going 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA. How can you NOT give him the opportunity to start Game 1 of the NLCS? Especially at home, where his ERA at home in the playoffs since 2012 is 1.77? Give the man the ball and let him do his thing.
Ryan Leopando
