Adam Wainwright talks with pitching coach Derek Lilliquist during a workout session at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on October 1, 2013. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Veteran ace Adam Wainwright, who won a National League best 19 games, will be on the mound for the Cardinals, who are in the postseason for the fourth time in the last five years as he faces off with veteran right-hander A.J. Burnett of the Pirates in game one of this NL Divisional Series which begins Thursday at 4 p.m. CT.
Pittsburgh earned the right to play in the NLDS with a 6-2 win over division rival Cincinnati on Tuesday night. It’s the Pirates first playoff appearance since 1992.
Wainwright has plenty of postseason experience. He was the team’s closer down in his rookie season in 2006, and after missing the Cardinals World Series run in 2011, due to Tommy John surgery, he made three starts last year. His postseason ERA is 2.48 for his career. With his 19 wins this season, Wainwright became only the third Cardinals pitcher to lead or tie for the most wins in the NL twice in his career, and he led the league with five complete games and two shutouts.
AUDIO (Adam Wainwright’s press conference, 8:30)