Mikolas agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract extension with the Cardinals on Friday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It will be tacked on to the $17 million he's making in 2023 in the final year of a four-year, $68 million contract, so the Cards will now have Mikolas around through 2025. The 34-year-old right-hander made the All-Star team in 2022, holding a 3.29 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 153:39 K:BB over 202.1 innings. Mikolas has a limited ceiling in fantasy due to his lack of strikeouts, but elite control and a superb defense behind him should give him a high floor in 2023.

Mikolas will draw the start for Thursday's Opening Day matchup with the Blue Jays, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mikolas will replace Adam Wainwright (groin) as the first pitcher to toe the rubber for St. Louis in 2023. The Opening Day start will be the second of his career, and the 34-year-old will look to build off a very successful 2022 campaign in which he posted a 3.29 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 202.1 innings in 33 starts for the Cardinals.

Mikolas is the leading candidate to start on Opening Day for the Cardinals, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The honor would have almost certainly gone to Adam Wainwright in what is expected to be his farewell MLB season, but it was announced Thursday that he will begin the year on the IL because of a groin strain. Mikolas was the most reliable starter for St. Louis throughout the 2022 campaign, working to a 3.29 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 202.1 regular-season innings. He'll make his final Grapefruit League start Friday night against the Nationals.

Mikolas will pitch in relief Monday against Canada in the World Baseball Classic, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mikolas was scheduled to start Wednesday against Colombia, but instead that honor will go to Merrill Kelly. The right-hander will instead piggyback with Lance Lynn against Canada in a game the United States realistically must win in order to stay alive in the tournament.

Mikolas is scheduled to start for Team USA in Wednesday's World Baseball Classic game versus Colombia, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mikolas got off to a good start in spring training, striking out six batters while walking one and allowed just two hits over five innings across two starts. He'll look to take his success to the international stage for a few weeks. The right-hander is a virtual lock for a spot in the Cardinals' rotation to begin the 2023 season after a solid 2022 in which he posted a 3.29 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 153:39 K:BB across 202.1 innings.

Manager Oliver Marmol announced Mikolas as the starter for Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series versus Philadelphia on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander allowed a run over three frames in his final outing of the regular season Monday, and he'll follow Game 1 starter Jose Quintana in the rotation to begin the playoffs for St. Louis. Mikolas threw a career-high 202.1 innings this year and finished with a 3.29 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 153:39 K:BB.

Mikolas allowed a run on three hits over three innings and did not factor into the decision in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Mikolas followed starter Jose Quintana, who began the game with three innings of one-hit ball. This was Mikolas' last scheduled appearance of the regular season, and he'll end with a 3.29 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 153:39 K:BB in a career-high 202.1 innings. He was sharp over his last six outings, giving up nine runs (eight earned) over 34 innings while logging four quality starts in that span. The right-hander will likely be included in the Cardinals' postseason rotation.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Mikolas and Jose Quintana will both pitch in Monday's game in Pittsburgh, with both starting pitchers scheduled to work about three innings, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Marmol didn't specify which of the two pitchers will be designated as the starter Monday, but whomever works second will presumably have the better chance at factoring into any decision. With St. Louis having already punched its ticket to the postseason, Marmol isn't eager to overextend any of the team's key pitchers in advance of the Cardinals' playoff opener Friday.

Mikolas (12-13) got the win after he pitched six innings, surrendering one run on four hits and a walk while striking out nine Tuesday against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Mikolas was able to hold the Brewers scoreless over the first five innings, finally giving up a solo home run to Rowdy Tellez in the bottom of the sixth frame. The right-hander has now produced three consecutive quality starts while the nine strikeouts were his highest since June 25. Over his last three outings, Mikolas has compiled a 2.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 18 strikeouts over 18 innings. He tentatively lines up to pitch his final start of the regular season Monday versus the Pirates.

Mikolas (11-13) took the loss against San Diego on Wednesday despite allowing just an unearned run on three hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six batters.

EDGE Analysis

This was one of Mikolas' best starts of the season, as it was the fifth time he's finished without surrendering an earned run and the seventh time he's allowed three or fewer hits. However, the right-hander got no run support from the St. Louis offense and was saddled with his third straight defeat. Mikolas is one of six pitchers with 13 or more losses this season, but he's the only one among that group with a sub-4.00 ERA. In fact, he has a solid 3.35 ERA on the campaign, and his 1.04 WHIP ranks within the top 20 among qualified pitchers.