CLOSE USA TODAY Sports' Steve Gardner breaks down how the Cardinals were able to advance to the NLCS. USA TODAY Sports
CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN COMMENT EMAIL MORE Please, stop it.
This is Major League Baseball.
It’s a postseason game.
A National League Division Series elimination game.
And St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt is supposed to pull his ace, Jack Flaherty, after one inning just because they have a 10-0 lead over the Atlanta Braves in the first inning?
Or pull him in the second inning when it’s 11-0.
Or the third inning when it’s 13-0.
Are you kidding?
Flaherty, who prepared the last four days for this start, was lined up perfectly to pitch Game 5 Wednesday, taking the Cardinals to the NLCS .
You don’t abruptly change your plans just because you have a massive lead.
Come on, you really going to have your 23-year-old ace pitch Game 1 of the NLCS on Friday on one day's rest?
Or pitch Game 2 on two days?
How about pitch Game 3 on regular rest, making him available for Game 7, as well?
All you would have done by pitching him on short rest in Game 2 is making him available for Game 6.
Oh, or didn’t you see what happened to Houston Astros’ Cy Young winner Justin Verlander pitching on short rest on Tuesday, who was pitching one day earlier than his normal routine.
Shildt played this perfectly.
Flaherty gave up one run in six innings. (Photo: Brett Davis, Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
Flaherty pitched six easy innings, throwing 104 pitches, with no stress at all in the Cardinals’ 13-1 rout.
Can you imagine if he pulled Flaherty out early, and the bullpen coughed it up and blew the game, making him look like the biggest laughingstock in playoff history?
"No, no chance," Shildt said after the game.
"We made a move in the first, but you pull him after one or two and something crazy starts happening in your bullpen, no, it's not the play.
"And like I said, we finished this series. He did his job; got us through six. Kept it right there. Brought it home.
"So I did not think about -- always thinking, but did not think about after the first pulling him. That would have been pretty brazen."
The Cardinals’ bullpen badly needed a break, and with Flaherty yielding four hits over six innings, they only had to cover the final three innings with three pitchers.
Now, the bullpen is fully rested and poised to go on Friday in the first game of a seven-game series in their bid to return to the World Series for the first time since 2013.
Flaherty will now be available for Game 3, which major league managers will tell you is the most critical game of a seven-game series.
And guess what? If there’s a Game 7, there’s no one the Cardinals would rather have than Flaherty.
Shildt is a strong candidate to win the NL Manager of the Year.
He proved once again why on Wednesday with his decision on Flaherty.
Really, it was a no-brainer.
See you Friday with veteran Adam Wainwright taking the mound.
Yeah, that guy’s pretty doggone good, too.
Follow Nightengale on Twitter: @Bnightengale
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Game 5 – Cody Bellinger catches a ball up against the wall in the fourth. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Corey Seager and Enrique Hernandez can't catch a fly ball in the fourth inning. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, -USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Kike Hernandez reacts after hitting a solo homer in the second. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Justin Turner throws to first in the second inning. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – A view of Dodger Stadium from center field. Robert Hanashiro, Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Trea Turner throws to first after tagging out Matt Beaty in the first inning. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Walker Buehler reacts after getting the final out of the second inning. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Joc Pederson and Max Muncy celebrate Muncy's two-run homer in the first. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Stephen Strasburg reacts after giving up a two-run homer in the first inning. Robert Hanashiro, Robert HanashiroUSA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Max Muncy rounds first after hitting a two-run homer in the first. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Max Muncy reacts after his two-run homer in the first. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Joc Pederson and Anthony Rendon laugh after Pederson's home run was overturned. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson chats with home plate umpire Alfonzo Martquez after hitting a ground-rule double in the first. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Cardinals players celebrate on the field after the final out. Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies react after the loss. Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Ronald Acuna Jr. is escorted to first base after being hit by a pitch in the fifth. Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Ozzie Albies turns a double play in the fourth inning as Paul Goldschmidt slides in. Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Josh Donaldson connects on a home run in the fourth inning. Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Harrison Bader watches as Josh Donaldson's solo homer leaves the park in the fourth inning. Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Paul DeJong reacts after hitting a double in the second inning. Brett Davis,USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Marcell Ozuna reaches first base in the first inning after a third strike got away from the catcher. Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Jack Flaherty pitches in the first inning. Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Kolten Wong celebrates after a two-run double in the first. Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Dansby Swanson fields a ball hit for an infield single by Paul Goldschmidt in the first inning. Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Kolten Wong drops down a bunt in the first inning. Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Paul Goldschmidt celebrates in the dugout after scoring in the first inning. Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 – Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina after scoring a run in the first inning. Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 - Rays shortstop Willy Adames and center fielder Kevin Kiermaier celebrate their 4-1 win over the Astros. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 - Rays' Blake Snell get the final out of the ninth inning. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 - Astros catcher Robinson Chirinos hits a home run in the eighth inning. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 - Rays relief pitcher Emilio Pagan delivers a pitch in the eighth inning. Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 - Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander is taken out of the game. Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 - Rays shortstop Willy Adames celebrates his home run with right fielder Avisail Garcia. Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 - Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander gives up a home run to Rays shortstop Willy Adames. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 - Rays catcher Travis d'Arnaud tags out Jose Altuvein the fourth inning. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Rays players celebrate Tommy Pham's home run in the first inning. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Willy Adames celebrates after the Rays scored a run in the first. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Joey Wendle hits an RBI double in the first inning. Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Ji-Man Choi comes around to score a run in the first inning. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Astros catcher Robinson Chirinos talks with Justin Verlander in the first inning. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Travis d'Arnaud hits an RBI single in the first inning. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Tommy Pham celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the first. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Rays pitcher Diego Castillo during the first inning. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Rays pitcher Diego Castillo and catcher Travis d'Arnaud in the first inning. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – George Springer hits a single in the first inning. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Astros fan Brad Adcock from Houston wears an astronaut helmet during pregame warmups. Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 - Yankees DH Edwin Encarnacion celebrates in the locker room. Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 - The Yankees celebrate a 5-1 win over the Twins. David Berding, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 - Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman looks on during the ninth inning. David Berding, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 - Yankees left fielder Cameron Maybin rounds the bases after a solo home run in the ninth inning. Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 - Twins relief pitcher Sergio Romo walks off the mound in the ninth inning. David Berding, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 - Twins right fielder Eddie Rosario rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning. Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 - Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela laughs with shortstop Didi Gregorius and first baseman DJ LeMahieu in the fifth inning. David Berding, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 - Twins right fielder Eddie Rosario is called out in the fifth inning. David Berding, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 – DJ LeMahieu (26) catches a pop fly during the third inning. David Berding, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 – Luis Severino reacts after getting out of a jam in the second inning. Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 – Gleyber Torres rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second. Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 – Aaron Judge catches a fly ball in the third inning. Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 3 –Miguel Sano reacts after striking out in the fourth inning. David Berding, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman hug after the final out. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Kurt Suzuki and pitcher Daniel Hudson react after the final out. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Nationals mascot Screech celebrates on the field after the game. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Nationals second baseman BRian Dozier tries to field a ball in the ninth. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Max Scherzer reacts at the end of the seventh inning. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Max Scherzer pitches in the seventh inning. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Ryan Zimmerman celebrates his three-run homer in the fifth. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Ryan Zimmerman rounds the bases after hitting a three-run homer in the fifth. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Ryan Zimmerman hits a three-run homer in the fifth. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner throws to first in the fourth inning. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Anthony Rendon hits an RBI single in the fifth. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Max Scherzer walks off the mound at the end of the fifth inning. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Cody Bellinger steals second base as shortstop Trea Turner tries to get the tag down in the fourth inning. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Michael A. Taylor advanced to third on a single. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Michael A. Taylor celebrates in the dugout after scoring in the third inning. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Justin Turner rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the first inning. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Justin Turner is welcomed back to the Dodgers after his solo home run in the first inning. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Players stand for the national anthem before the game. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin threw out the first pitch. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Kolten Wong celebrates with Matt Carpenter after scoring the winning run in the 10th inning. Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Kolten Wong scores the winning run in the 10th inning on Yadier Molina's sacrifice fly. Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Yadier Molina celebrates his game-tying sacrifice fly in the 10th. Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Left fielder Marcell Ozuna can't catch a ball hit by Ronald Acuna Jr. in the ninth. Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 4 – Ronald Acuna Jr. celebrates after hitting a ground-rule double in the ninth. Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen
