Red Sox versus Cardinals Pitching Matchup

Contributing Writer
Ryan MacLeod (@Ryanmacleod15)

We know that the Red Sox will be facing the St. Louis Cardinals for at least 4 games in the World Series, starting Wednesday. What we do not yet know is the pitching match-ups. At the time of this being written only one starter has been announced, Game 1 for St. Louis will be Adam Wainwright. Here are my projected match-ups;

Game 1: Jon Lester vs. Adam Wainwright
After the Red Sox Game 6 victory over the Detroit Tigers, Manager John Farrell, was asked who would pitch game 1 for him. He did nto give an answer but one would assume that Lester will get the ball, coming off more than enough rest and Adam Wainwright was announced at the starter for the Cardinals on Sunday. This looks like a good ole fashion pitchers duel. Wainwright this postseason is 2-1 with a 1.57 ERA and 20 strike outs. Lester is 2-1 as well with a 2.49 ERA and 14 strikeouts.
Game 2: Clay Buchholz vs. Michael Wacha
With the decision being made in the ALCS that Buchholz would start Game 2 at home, I feel that Farrell would be wise to do the same thing here. Wacha has been lights out for the Cardinals all postseason, compiling a 3-0 record, a 0.43 ERA and has struck out 22 batters. He is a rookie and the Red Sox hitters could rattle him if they score runs on him early. Buchholz is 0-0 this postseason in 3 starts. He has been good for 5 innings of work but has been abysmal after the 5th inning. He has a 5.40 ERA and has struck out 15.
Game 3: John Lackey vs. Lance Lynn
Lynn has pitched in 3 games for the Cardinals this postseason, starting 2 of them. He has a 2-1 record, a 5.40 ERA and has struck out 12. Lackey is coming off what may have been his greatest outing in a Red Sox uniform, beating Justin Verlander in Detroit in Game 3 of the ALCS. Lackey has started 2 games this postseason and has a 2-0 record. He has a 3.00 ERA and has struck out 14 batters.
Game 4: Jake Peavy vs. Joe Kelly
Peavy had one of his worst starts of the year for the Red Sox, but will be ready to go for Game 4 in St. Louis. Peavy has pitched in 2 games this postseason and has an 0-1 record. He has an awful 8.31 ERA, and has only struck out 4 batters while walking 3. Kelly has started 3 games this postseason for the Cardinals and has an 0-1 record. He has a 4.41 ERA and has struck out 13.

These pitching match-ups could go either way, it all depends on how the managers decide who they want their teams to face. These are projected match-ups with the only announced starter being Wainwright for the Cardinals in Game 1.