Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright threw a simulated game Saturday, pushing the possibility of his pitching in the playoffs closer to reality just when St. Louis needed it.
MLB.com's report Saturday was the silver lining in a cloudy rotation picture after right-hander Carlos Martinez (14-7, 3.01 ERA) was lost for the season Friday with a strained shoulder.
By my (unofficial) count, Waino threw 27 pitches. Struck out Adams (looking) and Grichuk (swinging). He's now fielding/covering first.
— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) September 26, 2015The latter part of Saturday's workout in Wainwright's rehab from a torn left Achilles tendon suffered in April probably was the most important.
The team has maintained that Wainwright, 34, wouldn't pitch until he could prove that he could field his position.
Given his playoff experience, he would bolster the Cardinals staff, if not physically then certainly psychologically, even if it's from the bullpen.
He has pitched in 21 postseason games, compiling a career 3.12 ERA.
The first-place Cardinals (98-57) are closing in on the 100-win mark but still haven't clinched the NL Central title despite having won six of the past seven entering Sunday's games. With a week left in the season, they face the Pirates (95-60), who trail them by three games, in a three-game series starting Monday.
