Michael Wacha has had a rough sophomore season. While he’s managed to pitch well when he’s been on the rubber, a shoulder injury has set him back for much of the year. After skipping his start last Sunday, he’ll make his third trip to the mound since the middle of June.
MLB viewing guide Saturday: Cardinals send Michael Wacha to mound vs. Reds
In just his third start since June, Michael Wacha hopes to bolster the Cardinals’ playoff odds with a strong showing against the Reds at Busch Stadium.
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He'll be facing the Reds, who have been abysmal on the road (31-47) and have scored the third-fewest runs in baseball in 2014. Cincinnati will be putting Mike Leake on the mound. Leake has pitched decently, with his 3.65 ERA just a half a run higher than Wacha's in a limited sample. The Cardinals are 2½ games ahead of the Pirates for the NL Central, though the Pirates have outpaced them in run differential (plus-47 to plus-12).
While the Reds don’t have much to play for, any opportunity to play the role of spoiler is an opportunity they’d jump at it. And if it just so happens to be against the Cardinals, that’s even better.
Saturday's MLB schedule
Time (ET) | Game | TV | Reason to watch |
1:05 p.m. | FOX | This series may not be for all the marbles, but at least the overwhelming majority of them. | |
1:05 p.m. | FOX | Nothing better than padding your division lead in the Friendly Confines. | |
4:05 p.m | Phillies at A's | Comcast Sports Philly, CS California, MLB Network | The A's Wild Card chances are living on the edge of a lightning bolt, and they do not apologize for that. Maybe Billy Beane does, actually. |
4:05 p.m. | Rogers Sportsnet, YES, MLB Network | It's the second-to-last Saturday that Derek Jeter will play in Yankee Stadium. And the second-to-last time he'll torture the Blue Jays. | |
4:10 p.m. | Fox Sports AZ, ROOT Rocky Mountain | Any number of Ben Folds songs would work here, but "Where's Summer B.?" fits best. | |
7:05 p.m. | NESN, MASN | If the Orioles want home field advantage throughout the playoffs, they need to run over the Red Sox this weekend. | |
7:05 p.m. | Brewers at Pirates | Fox Sports Wisconsin, ROOT Pittsburgh | Holding a slim lead for the last Wild Card spot, the Pirates can essentially clinch if they can win this series. |
7:10 p.m. | Sports Time Ohio, Fox Sports North | 16th-round pick T.J. House has pitched well in limited action as a starter this season. | |
7:10 p.m. | WPIX, Fox Sports South | With the way the Falcons are playing, just finishing above .500 would feel good for the Braves. | |
7:10 p.m. | ROOT Northwest, CSN Houston | Chris Young and the Mariners need every game they can get, and having to play against Dallas Keuchel isn't making it any easier. | |
7:10 p.m. | MASN, Fox Sports Florida | It must be nice for the Nationals to know that if this whole Stephen Strasburg thing doesn't work out, they have Jordan Zimmermann. | |
7:10 p.m. | Comcast Sports Chicago | While Chris Archer would be a lot more exciting if his first name was Sterling, he's still having a pretty good season. | |
7:15 p.m. | Reds at Cardinals | Fox Sports 1 | After missing his last start, Michael Wacha is hoping to continue his comeback tour. |
8:40 p.m. | Comcast Bay Area, Fox Sports San Diego, MLB Network | Andrew Cashner hopes for a solid rebound from assorted injuries to end his year on a positive note. | |
9:05 p.m. | Fox Sports Southwest, Fox Sports West, MLB Network | The demise of Jered Weaver has been greatly exaggerated. |
- Now that the Nationals have clinched the NL East, the folks at Federal Baseball know they have to get ready to deal with their toughest opponent yet: the Shadow and Sun monsters.
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