The Cardinals boast a 98.9 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs. And shelved starter Adam Wainwright could be pitching in those playoffs, according to Adam Wainwright.
The top-flight righty jas been out since tearing his Achilles tendon in late April. It's an injury that generally requires 9-12 months to rehab. The fruition of his hope would mean a six-month recovery, but he's still hanging on to it.
"I'll do whatever it takes to pitch in October, he told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "That's the deal."
Wainwright is speaking as a pitcher who has not experienced the pain common to other injuries. And that has been encouraging.
"I feel completely normal at all times," he said. "It's a really strange injury ... as far as pain is concerned. I have had zero pain the entire process and each day my range of motion is getting better and better. My strength is better and my poor, little, tired, sad calf in my left leg is starting to get some strength back."
The loss of Wainwright has not proven devastating for the St. Louis staff, which still boasts the best ERA in the majors. That is a good thing because it has put the team in position for another playoff run in which he feels he can participate. But it's a bad thing because it doesn't make him feel particularly good about himself.
"They even got better without me," he said. "It makes me feel kind of worthless, to be honest with you."