The St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates as both teams battle in the NLDS. So the Cardinals have Adam Wainwright, their ace, on the mound for Game 1. Should Cardinals' manager, Mike Matheny, reconsider the move and start rookie Shelby Miller in Game 3 instead?
Before reacting, watch this video and maybe you will understand the title. If you don't want to watch it, it's fine, I'll explain.
Last night, as the Pirates and Cincinnati Reds played the second N.L. Wild Card Game in the history of baseball, Pittsburgh was roaring as their team was finally in the playoffs after 21 years. Instead of rattling their own players with bombastic roars, they picked on the opposition. "Cueto! Cueto!" PNC Park sounded and felt like it was hosting a boxing match rather than a baseball game.
Johnny Cueto, a 27-year-old, six-year veteran with 160 starts under his belt was rattled. He had surrendered a solo home run to Marlon Byrd and his Reds were trailing 1-0. When the fans roared his last name in unison, Cueto dropped the ball and then dropped his cools. Russell Martin went deep, placing Cueto and the Reds in an 0-2 hole by the top of the third inning. He did not make it out of the fourth inning, allowing three earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched.
So here's Shelby Miller, a 22-year-old right handed pitcher for the Cardinals, who has made 32 starts in two seasons in the majors. He was solid in 2013, his first full season in the majors, going 15-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 31 starts. He struck out 169 hitters in 173.1 innings pitched. However, Miller struggled on the road.
Matheny, why place your rookie pitcher in such chilling conditions? Is it not bad enough that he is making his first ever postseason start? Last season, he was not solid coming out of the bullpen against the San Francisco Giants, so why even place him under those circumstances?
His numbers prove he's worthy of taking the ball in Game 1 of the series. The Cardinals will be at home, in front of their fans where Miller is 10-3 with a 1.75 ERA. Believe it or not, those numbers are better than Wainwright's home numbers in 2013. Wainwright is 9-6 with a 2.53 ERA at home.
With Lance Lynn taking the ball in Game 2, having Miller on the mound in Game 3, with the series possibly tied, could present some troubles for the Cardinals. Lynn is 15-10 with a 3.97 ERA in 2013. He is way better at home, so it will make sense to keep him as the Game 2 starter at home.
Call it over preparing, but if Miller can win Game 1, the Cardinals have the 1-0 lead, and Lynn can shut the door at home, then the Cardinals can go for the kill on the road with a true veteran on the mound. Wainwright has been on the big stage, saving a huge game in 2006 for the Cardinals while on the road in Shea Stadium. Why not give him the ball once again on the road instead of trusting the rookie in a jammed packed stadium with Pirate fans?
