ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A lot has happened this season that may be a bit tough to watch if you're a St. Louis Cardinals fan, but I really hope you're paying attention to what's happening every fifth day. Adam Wainwright starts are now can't-miss baseball.
Sunday's 3-0 win over the Pittsburg Pirates was apropos for Wainwright – who is arguably the second-best pitcher in Cardinals history – since it was Bob Gibson day at the ballpark.
"Wainwright is our modern-day Gibson. Which is saying something," said manager Mike Shildt. "He expected to dominate, Mr. Gibson. Waino expects to go out and dominate. Waino expects to go nine. Waino expects to go deep in a game. Waino expects to make pitches when he needs to. Waino expects to get it done. And it's great to expect all those things, but people can say anything they want."
Wainwright has been backing up the talk. He's now 12-7 on the season and here are 10 facts about his performance you need to know:
1. Really wanted another complete game
He was at 106 pitches, had retired the last 11 batters in a row and was coming off back-to-back strikeouts. But as he walked off the mound after the top of the 8th, Shildt gave him the signal he was done with an outstretched arm:
"You've got to shake my hand. It's on camera," Wainwright said Shildt told him. "You can't show me up. Don't leave me hanging."
2. Leads MLB with 3 starts of 8+ innings, 0 walks
5. Tied for best in MLB with 5 wins since All-Star Game
6. Currently second in baseball in innings pitched
Now, we're not saying he's on the Cy Young watch list, but ... A top-5 finish in the end-of-the-season voting isn't out of the question for Waino. In the National League, he's tied for the most starts, tied for 4th in wins, 10th in ERA, 14th in strikeouts, 9th in WHIP and 10th in opponents batting average. The voters may outweigh his second-half resurgence.
3. Now has 20 wins against PIT
It's the only team he has that many against in his career. There are only six other active pitchers who have accomplished that: Justin Verlander (4 teams), Clayton Kershaw (3 teams), Johnny Cueto, David Price and Stephen Strasburg.
4. Will pitch one more time against them
Waino has thrown 19 consecutive scoreless innings against PIT. He will likely get a chance to extend that next weekend in Pittsburgh.
7. Still slugging
On Sunday, Wainwright got his 39th career double and 51st extra-base hit, both are most among active MLB pitchers. He hasn't improved on his career .192 batting average as he set out to do this season, but he's still relatively dangerous at the plate.
8. Another Cardinals combined shutout
The 12th shutout of the season for St. Louis is T5th-most in MLB.
9. Waino & Yadi together again
Waino made his 298th career start with battery-mate Yadier Molina. That's still good for 4th on the all-time list. If both return to St. Louis next season, they could surpass Red Faber & Ray Schalk of the Chicago White Sox for 3rd place.
10. In 7 days, Waino turns 40-years-old
he's trying to become just the fourth pitcher in AL/NL history aged 39 years or older to lead his respective league, following Charlie Hough (1987), Phil Niekro (1978, 1979) and Early Wynn (1959).
But age is just a number.
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