MLB Player News

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said after Wednesday's Game 1 loss to the Red Sox that he has not ruled out using Game 1 starter Adam Wainwright on short rest in Game 4 of the World Series Sunday.

It would be Wainwright's first time starting a game on three days' rest but the Cardinals may want him out there if the series continues to head south. He surrendered five runs (three earned) in Wednesday's loss after giving up just four earned runs over 23 innings in his previous three postseason starts.

Cardinals Game 1 starter Adam Wainwright battled through multiple defensive miscues against the Red Sox Wednesday, giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out four in five innings as his team dropped Game 1, 8-1.

Wainwright was the victim of bad luck in the first inning, when a potential double play ball was muffed on the throw to second base. One batter later, a Mike Napoli double cleared the bases and put the Red Sox up 3-0.

The Cardinals starter also added a miscommunication error in the second inning, watching a infield pop fly by Stephen Drew drop between him and Yadier Molina after the pitcher appeared to call off the other infielders. The play was ruled a single, but a later error meant just three of the five runs Wainwright allowed through the first two innings, in which he threw 60 total pitches, were earned.

Wainwright bounced back after the second inning, posting 1-2-3 innings in the third and fourth that included three straight strikeouts, then posting a scoreless fifth inning before ending his night with 95 pitches. However, the two errors by the shortstop and the infield pop-up single in the second proved too much to overcome. Wainwright will likely be called upon to pitch a potential Game 5 at home Monday, though the Cardinals could opt to use him on short rest in Game 4 Sunday instead.

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn is available out of the bullpen for Game 1 of the World Series against the Red Sox, MLB.com reports. However, Lynn's Game 1 availability will not necessarily preclude him from starting Game 3 or Game 4 in St. Louis.

Lynn has prior relief experience, making 16 relief appearances and two starts in 2011 in his first season with the Cardinals, as well as six relief appearances in 2012 and 15 career postseason relief appearances.

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha will start Game 2 of the World Series, according to manager Mike Matheny.

Wacha has been dominant during the postseason, giving up just one earned run in 21 innings. His ERA sits at 0.43. Wacha will oppose John Lackey in Boston.

MLB.com reports that the Cardinals will turn to ace Adam Wainwright to start Game 1 of the World Series in Boston.

Wainwright has made three starts this postseason, and he has posted a 1.57 ERA with 20 strikeouts and one walk over 23 innings.

The Dodgers offered left-hander Clayton Kershaw a deal worth roughly $300 million during the regular season, according to a report from ESPN.

Both sides were unable to conclude the negotiations during the season, although they progressed enough that there is confidence Kershaw will eventually sign a deal during the winter. His potential deal is projected to be the largest ever for a pitcher.

Kershaw ended his season on a sour note, allowing seven runs over four innings in a 9-0 defeat to the Cardinals in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series Friday. He finished the regular season 16-9 with a 1.83 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP over 33 starts (236 innings), making him a heavy favorite to win his second career Cy Young award.

Cardinals rookie starter Michael Wacha turned in another impressive performance as he picked up the win in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers Friday night.

Wacha surrendered only two hits and one walk while striking out five over seven innings of a 9-0 victory, earning NLCS MVP honors. He has not allowed a run over his last 13 2/3 postseason innings. Wacha has only allowed one run over three starts (21 innings) this postseason.

The Cardinals have yet to announce their World Series rotation.

Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw was not close to his dominant form as he endured his shortest outing of the season and took the loss in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Cardinals Friday night.

Kershaw allowed run-scoring singles to Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina and a two-run single to Shane Robinson all in the third inning. He was charged with seven runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out five over four innings of a 9-0 defeat. The last time Kershaw allowed four runs in one inning was against the Cardinals on July 24, 2012. 

Kershaw finished the postseason 1-2 with a 3.13 ERA in four starts after going 16-9 with a stellar 1.83 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP over 33 starts (236 innings) in the regular season. 

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke delivered a big performance in a potential elimination game Wednesday, giving up just two earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four in seven innings as the Dodgers won Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Cardinals, 6-4.

Greinke's win shifts the series back to St. Louis, where the Dodgers will have to win Game 6 and Game 7 in order to advance to the World Series. Greinke has given up exactly two earned runs in each of this three postseason starts while posting a 17:2 K:BB ratio in 21 innings. Should the Dodgers advance, Greinke would likely be called upon to pitch Game 1 or Game 2 of the World Series on the road.

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn fell two outs shy of a quality start but still managed to come away with a win against the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series Tuesday night.

Lynn surrendered run-scoring singles to Yasiel Puig and A.J. Ellis in the fourth inning for his only blemish of the night. He yielded two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five over 5 1/3 innings of a 4-2 victory.