Wainwright allowed zero runs on five hits across 6.0 innings and earned the win Thursday against the Pirates. He struck out six and didn't record a walk.

EDGE Analysis

Wainwright earned the Opening Day nod with Jack Flaherty (shoulder) sidelined and showed he's still got it. The 40-year-old has enjoyed a nice late-career resurgence over the past two seasons, notching a 3.08 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 42 starts since the start of the 2020 campaign, prior to Thursday's stellar outing.

Wainwright, who was scheduled to start Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Houston, will now pitch in a game on a back field, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Due to a threat of inclement weather Saturday, the Cardinals will alter Wainwright's pitching plans to make sure that he's able to pitch. Saturday's session will serve as a final tune-up for the right-hander before he starts in the Cardinals' Opening Day matchup against the Pirates on Thursday.

The Cardinals have informed Wainwright that he'll start the club's Opening Day game April 7 versus the Pirates, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

EDGE Analysis

Wainwright became the logical choice to start the Cardinals' first game of the regular season after Jack Flaherty developed shoulder inflammation earlier in spring training that will force him to open the campaign on the injured list. The 40-year-old has enjoyed a nice late-career resurgence over the past two seasons after his performance has previously nosedived during the latter half of the past decade. Since the beginning of the 2020 season, Wainwright has produced a 3.08 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 42 starts.

Wainwright threw 5.1 innings in Wednesday's wild-card loss to the Dodgers, giving up one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five.

EDGE Analysis

Wainwright hung with Max Scherzer and gave the underdog Cardinals a fighting chance, as the teams remained locked at 1-1 until Chris Taylor's two-out walkoff homer in the bottom of the ninth. The only run the Dodgers managed to score off the veteran came on a solo homer by Justin Turner in the fourth inning. Wainwright now owns a 2.83 ERA in 114.1 career postseason innings.

Wainwright agreed to a one-year extension with the Cardinals on Friday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wainwright appeared to be fading as expected throughout his mid-to-late thirties before suddenly bouncing back over the last two seasons, posting a combined 3.08 ERA over 42 starts. While that number outpaces his peripherals, his 3.76 FIP and 3.95 xFIP both indicate that he's still very much a useful pitcher. Next year will be Wainwright's age-40 season, and it's likely that it will be his final one, as he indicated over the summer that he'd retire after the 2021 or 2022 season. Longtime teammate Yadier Molina also signed a one-year extension back in August with the intention of retiring after the year, so the battery mates will probably ride off into the sunset together.

Wainwright will start the NL Wild Card Game on Wednesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wainwright made his final start of the regular season Tuesday, and he'll have additional rest ahead of his postseason start. The right-hander posted a 5.06 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 16 innings across his last three starts, but he'll attempt to bounce back against the team's NL West opponent in the pivotal wild-card matchup.

Wainwright (17-7) allowed two earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four across six innings to earn the win Tuesday against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Wainwright limited the Brewers effectively by inducing 11 groundouts. He generated only four swinging strikes on 102 pitches, but the only damage he surrendered came on a two-run home run by Luis Urias. Wainwright has maintained his success into September having now allowed 14 earned runs across 36.2 frames. However, in that same span, he has only 21 strikeouts as compared to 10 walks. Wainwright could draw a final start to close the regular season, and he'll carry a 3.05 ERA and 174:50 K:BB across 206.1 frames into that outing.

Wainwright surrendered five runs on four hits and a pair of walks while striking out one batter across four innings during Thursday's win over the Brewers. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

It was the second shortest outing of the season for Wainwright dating back to his first start April 3. The 40-year-old's biggest nemesis of the game proved to be Tyrone Taylor, who hit a grand slam in the first inning and a solo homer in the fourth, accounting for all the damage charged to Wainwright. Fortunately, his offense came through with the win. The right-hander has compiled a 3.05 ERA and 1.04 WHIP overall and lines up for a rematch with the Brewers at home next week.

Wainwright allowed two earned runs on seven hits while striking out two across six innings in the win over the Padres on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Wainwright broke his streak of five straight wins, but he still managed his 11th quality start in his last 12 outings. In that stretch, he has an impressive 1.82 ERA in 84.2 innings dating back to July 21. On the season, the 39-year-old has a 2.89 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 169 strikeouts in 196.1 innings.

Wainwright (16-7) picked up the win in Monday's 7-0 victory over the Mets, giving up four hits and three walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran righty cruised to his fifth straight win despite having a little trouble finding the plate consistently, as he tossed only 58 of 103 pitches for strikes before exiting. Wainwright has delivered a quality start in 10 of his last 11 outings, going 9-1 over that stretch with a dazzling 1.72 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 61:14 K:BB through 78.2 innings.