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St. Louis Cardinals: Adam Wainwright has milestone in his sights in 2022

By Kevin Henry

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 28: Adam Wainwright #50 of the St. Louis Cardinals applauds after a defensive play by Nolan Arenado #28 in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 28, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 28: Adam Wainwright #50 of the St. Louis Cardinals applauds after a defensive play by Nolan Arenado #28 in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 28, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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When Adam Wainwright takes the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022, he will be chasing a big milestone.

The 40-year-old Wainwright is coming off one of his best seasons during his 16-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals as he logged a 17-7 record with a 3.05 ERA, 3.66 FIP, and 1.057 WHIP. The solid starts earned him a one-year deal with St. Louis for the 2022 season for $17.5 million, more than double what he made in 2021 ($8 million).

Expectations are high for what Wainwright could do in 2021 and, if he meets those expectations, he could secure a spot in a very exclusive MLB pitching club.

With a strong season in 2022, St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright could earn his 200th career win.

Thanks to those 17 wins he earned in 2021, Wainwright finished the campaign with 184 career victories. That means that Wainwright would need to earn 16 wins to reach the 200-win milestone in 2022, a season where he will turn 41 on August 30.

If he were to reach that mark, he would join 117 other pitchers in MLB history who have earned 200 or more victories. Cy Young holds the record with 511 wins while Wainwright’s teammate last season, Jon Lester, earned his 200th career victory while wearing a Cardinals uniform on September 20.

Only 24 pitchers in MLB history have earned 300 or more wins.

In his career, Wainwright has totaled more than 16 wins in a season on five different occasions, including a pair of 20-win seasons in 2010 and 2014, campaigns in which he also earned All-Star nods.

Wainwright also may not be the only pitcher to cross over the 200-win plateau next season as Max Scherzer (now with the New York Mets) sits at 190 wins and Clayton Kershaw (a free agent as the MLB lockout rolls along) has 185.

Scherzer and Wainwright went head-to-head in the National League Wild Card Game at Dodger Stadium last year, with neither starting pitcher figuring in the decision in a 3-1 Dodgers win.

Next. Wainwright gives a clown a bath. dark

Coming off a National League Central title and with Yadier Molina returning once again behind the plate, if he can stay healthy, Wainwright will certainly have his opportunities to reach 200 wins as the Cardinals hope to move deeper in the postseason in 2022.

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