St. Louis Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers: Home Opening

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Adam Wainwright takes the mound against Matt Garza (0-1, 7.20 ERA) as the St. Louis Cardinals kick off the home portion of the 2015 baseball season at Busch Stadium when they host the Milwaukee Brewers.

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In starting this afternoon’s home opener, Wainwright becomes the first Cardinals pitcher in many years to start both Opening Day on the road and the club’s home opener. This will be the fourth home opener that Wainwright starts for the Cardinals. Wainwright previously started the home openers in 2009, 2010, and 2012. He would have started five openers including today but the 2008 home opener against the Colorado Rockies was rained out. When Wainwright made his 2012 debut following Tommy John surgery, he was rocked for eight runs in three innings pitched.

With one game yesterday, third baseman Matt Carpenter now owns a team-high 5 RBI. He drove in four runs on Sunday afternoon, including the game-winning walk-off home run in extra innings. The 4 RBI game is the most for a Cardinals lead-off batter since shortstop Rafael Furcal drove in four on August 3, 2011 against the Brewers. Only 14 lead-off hitters since 2000 have driven in four runs in one game for the Cardinals.

Since Busch Stadium III opened in the 2006, the Cardinals are 436-292 (.599) at Busch III. It is the best home winning percentage in the National League in that time span. The next closest team in the National League are the Atlanta Braves.

In the first five games to start the season, the Cardinals pitching staff have struck out 49 batters of the 180 faced. It is the most-ever to start the season as the 1966 Cardinals struck out 44 batters to begin the season.

On the offensive front, the Cardinals own a 42-28 edge in out-hitting opponents.

The Cardinals lineup:
1. Matt Carpenter, 3B
2. Jason Heyward, RF
3. Matt Holliday, LF
4. Matt Adams, 1B
5. Jhonny Peralta, SS
6. Jon Jay, CF
7. Yadier Molina, C
8. Kolten Wong, 2B
9. Adam Wainwright, P

Today’s game can be found on both FSN Midwest and MLB Network.