Cardinals: Biggest X-Factors for Game 2 against the Phillies

Jun 14, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (39) salutes the fans after pitching 8 2/3 inning and giving up one hit in a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (39) salutes the fans after pitching 8 2/3 inning and giving up one hit in a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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St. Louis Cardinals Mike Maddux and Jack Flaherty
Pitching Coach Mike Maddux #31 of the St. Louis Cardinals speaks with Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images)

Jack Flaherty

After spending most of 2022 on the injured list for St. Louis, Jack Flaherty may now be the club’s most important bullpen arm coming into Game 2 of the Wild Card Series.

After warming up in the bullpen in the top of the 9th while the club was beginning to melt down, manager Oli Marmol instead went to rookie Andre Pallante, and indicated post game that not bringing in Flaherty likely meant high leverage innings in Game 2.

With Gallegos being used for four outs in Game 1 and Helsley more than likely being unavailable for the rest of the series, Flaherty will be relied upon for big outs in crucial moment for the Cardinals.

Flaherty really showed signs of his old self over his last three appearances during the regular season. In 13 innings of work, the right-hander struck out 16 batters while allowing just 4 runs. This kink of swing and miss stuff is essential late in games, and could be the difference for St. Louis in holding a lead again.

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