St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha holds the most valuable player trophy after Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on October 18, 2013. St. Louis won the game 9-0 and will now advance to the 2013 World Series. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha holds the most valuable player trophy. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Michael Wacha last pitched at home in the NLCS against the Dodgers and sent the Cardinals into the World Series. A great way to finish up 2013. Now, Wacha will get things started at Busch Stadium for 2014 when he will face the Cincinnati Reds in the home opener on Monday, April 7.

“It’s definitely an honor,” Wacha said told the media on Monday. “Just like all the other starts last year, I’ll just try not to let the moment get too big. I’ll concentrate on my first start, really, in Cincinnati. I’m going to take it one game at a time and not really look forward ahead of my first start.”

Wacha has started four games this spring and thrown 15 innings.  He’s allowed just ten hits and given up just three earned runs for a 1.76 ERA.   Wacha is scheduled to make one more spring start on Thursday and pitch on the road against the Reds on April 2, before the Cardinals’ first homestand.

Wacha’s first two starts come against Cincinnati as the rivals square off in six of the first ten games of the season. Wacha faced the Reds one last season, going six scoreless innings and allowing just three hits.