The Cardinals are 10 games back of the Cubs in the NL Central, but their ace might finally be pitching like a No. 1 starter.
Since giving up seven runs on 11 hits in five innings against the Angels on May 12, Adam Wainwright has turned in six quality starts. The latest came Thursday night when he allowed two runs on two hits while striking out nine and walking just one over six innings in a 3-2 win over the Reds.
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Wainwright (5-4, 5.21 ERA) didn't get the win Thursday, but the Cardinals have won eight of his last nine starts. The only loss came June 3, when Wainwright struck out six with one walk and allowed just two runs over seven innings in a 5-1 loss to the Giants.
And there was encouraging news from Thursday's no-decision than just the fact the Cardinals won for the 32nd time this season; the nine strikeouts for Wainwright were a season high. In fact, they were the most strikeouts Wainwright had recorded in a game since fanning 12 Reds on May 25, 2014.
Wainwright made just seven appearances, with four starts, last year because of a ruptured Achilles. If the Cardinals finally have their ace back in form, they just might be able to push for postseason contention this season.
Player of the Day
DJ LeMahieu, 2B, Rockies: LeMahieu feasted on Pittsburgh pitching Thursday. He went 2 for 3 with a home run and a double, drove in three runs scored three times in Colorado's 11-5 win at Coors Field.
Highlight
Rangers DH Prince Fielder will teach these youngsters to pay attention at a ballgame. Just ask the young lady at Globe Life Park in Arlington after her iPhone was demolished by Fielder's fourth-inning home run in Texas' 5-3 win over the Astros.
Three things to know
— The Phillies selected 18-year-old outfielder Mickey Moniak from La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.) with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 MLB Draft. Tennessee third baseman Nick Senzel went second to the Reds.
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— Both Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado (four games) and Kansas City pitcher Yordano Ventura (nine games) are appealing their respective suspensions for Tuesday's fight. Machado was in the lineup for the Orioles for Thursday's game in Toronto. He didn't take long to make an impact. His RBI double in the first inning opened the scoring. He finished 2 for 5 in a 6-5 Baltimore victory.
— Well, that got out of hand quickly. The Marlins and Twins were locked in a 2-2 tie until the Marlins erupted for seven runs in the seventh inning. After chasing Twins starter Ervin Santana, who gave up five runs, including three in the seventh, the Marlins tacked on three more off reliever Trevor May, who didn't record an out. Marlins first baseman Chris Johnson blasted a pinch-hit two-run homer off Taylor Rogers to cap the scoring in the inning. The Marlins added another run for a 10-3 victory. Maybe most surprising about the 10-run outburst is that Giancarlo Stanton went 0 for 5 with four strikeouts.
What's next
Royals (30-29) at White Sox (30-30), 8:10 p.m. ET: Both teams are looking up at the Indians in the AL Central. With the Tribe out west, either team could make up some ground this weekend. The Royals will turn to Ian Kennedy (4-4, 3.44 ERA) while the White Sox will put the ball in the left hand of ace Chris Sale (9-2, 2.54).
Dodgers (32-29) at Giants (36-25), 10:15 p.m. ET: It'll be a matchup of two of the best arms in the National League with Clayton Kershaw (8-1, 1.46) facing off against Johnny Cueto (8-1, 2.16). Both teams should be rested, having Thursday off. Cueto is coming off six days of rest and may need all his strength to outduel Kershaw, who is 17-7 with a 1.60 ERA against the Giants in his career.