The St. Louis Cardinals have announced their 2011 playoff roster. One big name player didn’t make the cut for the NLDS while an unexpected starter is taking the hill for the Cardinals in game one.
The Cardinals needed all 162 games to make it into the playoffs, and had to use their best pitcher to get there. Chris Carpenter lived up to his role as Cardinals ace Wednesday night, shutting out the Astros with his complete game two hitter.
Unfortunately for St. Louis, because they had to use Carpenter in their regular season finale, the right-hander will not be available for today’s NLDS opener against the Phillies.
Instead, the Cardinals have elected to hand the ball to Kyle Lohse. While not Carpenter, Lohse had an impressive 2011 season in his own right, and the Cardinals hope he can propel them to a game one victory.
Along with Carpenter and Lohse, starters on the Cardinals playoff roster include Jaime Garcia, Edwin Jackson and Jake Westbrook. St. Louis’s NLDS bullpen will consist of Arthur Rhodes, Marc Rzepczynski, Octavio Dotel, Mitchell Boggs, Fernando Salas and Jason Motte.
The big name missing is that of starter/reliever Kyle McClellan. While it originally looked like McClellan would make the cut, the Cardinals decided against his addition due to concerns over his ‘dead arm’.
St. Louis will carry infielders Albert Pujols, Nick Punto, Rafael Furcal, Ryan Theriot, Daniel Descalso, David Freese and Skip Schumaker. Gerald Laird will backup starter Yadier Molina behind the plate.
In the outfield, the Cardinals playoff roster includes Lance Berkman, Jon Jay, Matt Holliday, Allen Craig and Adron Chambers.
The Cardinals and Phillies begin their series this afternoon at 5:00 p.m.
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