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It all comes to tonight’s final game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Win or lose, I’m very proud of what the team has accomplished this year.
Oct 3, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) throws to a Pittsburgh Pirates batter during the first inning in game one of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Busch Stadium. Image Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Veteran starter Adam Wainwright takes the mound against Pirates rookie Gerrit Cole. Cole pitched Game 2 last Friday while Wainwright handled Game 1 for the Cards.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny has said that every pitcher will be available to come out of the bullpen in relief except for Joe Kelly and Michael Wacha. Kelly and Wacha started Games 3 and 4, respectively. If it comes to it, Shelby Miller and Lance Lynn will be available. For the sake of the Cardinals, let’s home Wainwright brings his A game tonight.
When it comes to the Cardinals and postseason elimination games, don’t count them out. The Cardinals won elimination games in 2011 against the Philadelphia Phillies and two of them against the Texas Rangers.
For many fans, last year’s collapse in the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants still hurts and it feels as if the Cardinals have some unfinished business remaining.
St. Louis Cardinals:
Matt Carpenter 2b
Carlos Beltran rf
Matt Holliday lf
Yadier Molina c
Jon Jay cf
David Freese 3b
Pete Kozma ss
Adam Wainwright p
Pittsburgh Pirates:
Starling Marte lf
Neil Walker 2b
Andrew McCutchen cf
Justin Morneau 1b
Marlon Byrd rf
Pedro Alvarez 3b
Russell Martin c
Clint Barmes ss
Gerrit Cole p