St. Louis Cardinals: Order restored in paradise, as Adam Wainwright gets home opening nod
Adam Wainwright returns from the Disabled List just in time to make his first start, restoring order in paradise for the St. Louis Cardinals
Opening Day at Busch Stadium is a taste of paradise, “baseball heaven” as some call it. The pageantry of the Clydesdales, the all-time St. Louis Cardinals greats rolling out in their Sunday best — with the 2018 variation showcasing Bob Gibson to Tim Marcarver one last time — according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pure perfection.
However, the opener in St. Louis nearly wast tainted, with veteran hurler Adam Wainwright sent to the DL starting the 2018 campaign — where he was projected to miss the home opener in Arch City. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny even adjusted the starting rotation so that Wainwright’s spot would fall on the home opener — a class act, indeed.
#SPORTS! Adam Wainwright is working his ass off to start tomorrow’s home opener at #Busch. https://t.co/950AkCJMSD
— The Rizzuto Show (@RizzShow) April 4, 2018
The order is restored in St. Louis, with Wainwright returning to the Cardinals roster just in time for Thursday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Shorterm this is a blessing, but long-term it may hurt the Cardinals, with Jack Flaherty sent down to Triple-A Memphis to clear a spot for Waino.
Oh, and Jack Flaherty needs to be owned everywhere, regardless of whatever transaction the Cardinals are reputedly making. Adam Wainwright can go suck an egg.
— Scott White (@CBSScottWhite) April 4, 2018
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Fantasy Baseball expert Scott White is missing the whole point of this transaction, one that would have been made regardless of Wainwright’s existing injury.
Flaherty had no comment as the St. Louis Cardinals sent him packing, and who can blame him for having a loss of words; but, the hard-throwing righty will no doubt be back at the MLB level soon — appearing to be big league ready.
Wainwright is well-suited, at this point in his career, coming out of the bullpen in long relief, but, he did have an impressive Spring. Why not see what he’s capable of doing for a handful of starts, and if he’s not at the level he accustomed to, you can always stick him in the pen.
Granted, with a tight race expected in the NL Central, and for the NL Wild Card, it’s a gamble. But, one that could pay off if Wainwright’s Spring results were no fluke.
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First things first, though. Adam Wainwright is starting the St. Louis Cardinals home opener at Busch Stadium, and all is right in baseball heaven.