Hunt and Peck

Adam Wainwright is going to start, probably - A Hunt and Peck

Depending on how things go, of course.

By lil_scooter93 Aug 28, 2018, 1:00pm EDT

Los Angeles Dodgers v St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have had a few key starters in their rotation suffer injuries this year, including the likes of Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, and Carlos Martínez. Miles Mikolas and the Rookies (newbandnameIcallit) have filled in admirably in their stead. In fact, the crew has done really well. Well enough that Martínez was slotted into the bullpen when he returned in an effort to keep him healthy, and well enough that there are some tough decisions to be made when it comes to the return of Waino and Wacha.

As of now, according the Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak, Adam Wainwright will return to his starting role.

If all continues to go well for Adam Wainwright? As John Mozeliak told me recently, Wainwright “probably slides right into our rotation.” #stlcards
— Tom Ackerman (@Ackerman1120) August 28, 2018

This matter was discussed earlier this week on the Viva El Birdos Podcast. With the expanded rosters and the personnel the Cardinals have, there is a lot of potential for creativity with the starting rotation. The team could really make it so that no starter sees the opposing lineup more than twice through. The team could employ a six-man rotation. Manager Mike Shildt would have the increased flexibility to be aggressive and proactive with his pitching changes. If this were the case, who “starts” and who “relieves”, does not really matter that much. It could be a very good thing, particularly down the stretch.

Though let’s not get too carried away. These things always seem to sort themselves out in soul-crushing fashion, do they not?

As for Waino, during his rehab he has made five starts, two in low A, two in AA, and one in AAA. In those starts he has pitched 12 innings of scoreless ball with sixteen strikeouts, two walks, and has given up seven hits.