Cardinals Get Bad News on RHP Michael Wacha Ahead of Postseason
By Chris Pyo
If the St. Louis Cardinals want to replicate their 2011 World Series success, they'll have to do it without pitcher Michael Wacha for the time being.
The 2013 NLCS MVP and 2015 All-Star will be out for the entirety of the Cardinals' NLDS matchup against the Atlanta Braves with a mild strain of his right shoulder, which forced him to exit his most recent start against the Diamondbacks in the second inning this past Wednesday.
#Cardinals Michael Wacha likely out until NLCS at the earliest.https://t.co/L3H1rPhJrJ pic.twitter.com/PoIfQtr5d5
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) September 28, 2019
If he's somehow able to pitch again this season, it won't come unless the Cardinals advance to the NLCS. And with the Braves' star-studded lineup and the lack of offensive firepower the Cardinals have shown throughout the season, their chances of advancing are far from a given. This will be tough.
Wacha has struggled a lot on the mound this year, as he's posted a 6-7 record with a 4.76 ERA. While he started off the season in the Cardinals' starting rotation, he was yanked from it after posting an 8.86 ERA for the month of May.
Michael Wacha will have imaging done Thursday to determine the full diagnosis of what appears to be a "mild right shoulder strain," as well as the severity of it and where it leaves Wacha's season: https://t.co/0H2nJyG1lT
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) September 26, 2019
While the Cardinals' rotation is in exceptional shape for the postseason with the likes of Jack Flaherty, Adam Wainwright, Dakota Hudson and Miles Mikolas, it could be the bullpen that proves to be the Cardinals' downfall. With Wacha's injury, the Cardinals' bullpen depth shrinks even more.
Wacha will be a free agent after this season, and after spending his entire career with the Cardinals up to this point, it seems likely that he'll depart from St. Louis. If that's the case, he had a pretty solid run for them.