Wainwright requested and is scheduled to receive extra starts this spring, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "I'd rather go into the season knowing I'm prepared, rather than question marks," Wainwright said Sunday morning. "Two years ago it was a necessity. Last year was somewhat of a necessity. There's no reason to go short anymore. I used to really like coming into the season prepared. This year, I'll be very prepared."

EDGE Analysis

The two-time 20-game winner has plenty of room for improvement despite a solid 13-9 record last season, and the Cardinals plan to afford him plenty of work to get him started on the right foot this spring. That's in sharp contrast to previous exhibition slates, when Wainwright has been on a reduced throwing program due to health issues. Wainwright is slated to kick off what will be a busy spring with a start against the Braves on Thursday, which will set him on course to potentially open six spring training games overall. If schedule holds, it will result in the veteran right-hander starting just one fewer game than the two previous springs combined.