More: Staff predictions | Start times through Game 2 | Umpire assignments
The starting pitcher for the top-seeded Cardinals in Game 1 of the NLDS round was rather obvious: Ace Adam Wainwright. Behind him, though, the Cardinals have plenty of decisions to make. Tuesday, manager Mike Matheny made one. Lance Lynn will get the ball for Game 2 (via stltoday.com) against either the Pirates or Reds in Busch Stadium Friday afternoon.
Lynn, 26, went 15-10 with a 3.97 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 198 strikeouts in 201 2/3 starts this season. He is, however, 9-3 with a 2.82 ERA at home while going 6-7 with a 5.15 ERA on the road. Thus, naming him the Game 2 starter means he'll avoid pitching on the road. That had to have factored into the decision.
Also likely part of the thought process is that Lynn closed the season strong. In his last four outings, he was 2-0 with a 1.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 30 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings.
The Cardinals haven't publicly noted who will work after Wainwright and Lynn. Expect Shelby Miller, Joe Kelly and Michael Wacha to be in the mix.
