Revenge of the 2012 NLCS is finally here. Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals take on Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of the NLCS. Several players remain for both teams from 2012, but it’s a new NLCS. After wrapping up an NLDS with late inning heroics, the Cardinals look to keep the hot bats going and continue their sudden homerun power surge against a Giants team batting just .251 on the road and .236 this postseason.
Wainwright is looking to rebound from his NLDS Game 1 start despite his apparent elbow issues, which he claims is fine and is ready to go for tonight’s game. Even with that Game 1 NLDS hiccup, he still finished the regular season 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA. Since 2012, his playoff ERA is just 1.77. There has been some controversy about Waino starting Game 1, but his October numbers lead me to believe that he will be his normal self tonight, especially pitching at home where he has been dominant.
Career Home: 2.74 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
Career Postseason: 3.13 ERA, 1.10 WHIP
Career NLCS: 1.59 ERA, 0.77 WHIP
On the other end of the pitching duel is Madison Bumgarner, who has so far been the Giants work horse this postseason with a 1.13 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. However, his career NLCS ERA is a whopping 7.84, and the last time the Cardinals faced him in the 2012 NLCS, he lasted only 3.2 innings. And lets not forget also that so far this postseason the Cardinals left-handed bats are feasting on left-handed pitching. Just ask Clayton Kershaw.
The Giants have also announced their Game 2 starter for tomorrow night, giving the ball to Jake Peavy in a matchup against Lance Lynn.
