PostCards: Mike Matheny sets NLDS pitching rotation

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny has set the pitching rotation as the Cardinals take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2014 National League Division Series.

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The announcement of the NLDS rotation came this afternoon. It was already a no-brainer decision that Matheny would be sending Adam Wainwright to the mound to take on probably repeat-Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw on Friday night. In Game 2 on Saturday night, Lance Lynn will take the start.

John Lackey, acquired by the Cardinals before the July 31 trading deadline, will start on Monday night as the series heads to St. Louis for Game 3.

The big news was that Shelby Miller was announced as the starter for Game 4, if necessary. Michael Wacha will come out of the bullpen to relieve Miller during the game. Wacha shined for the Cardinals in the 2013 NLCS and beat Kershaw twice to win the NLCS MVP Award.

Wainwright heads into Friday night’s start with ten days of rest. In eight career NLDS games, Wainwright has posted a 2-0 record with a 2.52 ERA. Against the Dodgers in the postseason, Wainwright has allowed three runs on nine hits in 15 innings pitched.

As for Lance Lynn, the Indiana native has closed out what can be described as the best season of his career. He had nine quality starts down the stretch and hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a game since facing the Dodgers on the road in June. In the postseason, Lynn has yet to record a win as a starter.

No announcement has been made as far as who will be pitching in a series-deciding Game 5.