Adam Wainwright started the Cardinals’ Wild Card Game loss, but he’s not done working this postseason just yet.
No stranger to pitching in the postseason, Adam Wainwright was the obvious choice to take the ball for the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Wild Card Game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched well (one run on four hits over 5.1 innings), and perhaps was pulled too early, as the Cardinals lost on a walk-off home run to bring their season to an end.
Wainwright had a fine 2021 regular season, with a 17-7 record, a 3.05 ERA, three complete games and solid peripherals (7.6 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 3.66 FIP). He’s not quite done pitching, and the Cardinals have already signed him to a one-year deal that will guarantee him $17.5 million for next season.
But Wainwright is not yet done working this postseason.
Adam Wainwright joining coverage of Astros-White Sox ALDS
On Thursday night, FOX Sports announced Wainwright will join play-by-play man Adam Amin, analyst A.J. Pierzynski and reporter Tom Verducci for the rest of the ALDS between the Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox.
Wainwright will turn 41 next August 30, so he may not pitch beyond next season regardless of how well he pitches. He makes regular appearances on MLB Network’s morning show as a guest, and he appears to have the personality to mix with his pitching experience as he tries his hand at broadcasting.
Wainwright’s exact role was not made clear in FOX’s announcement, but it seems certain he’ll make it a three-man booth with Amin and Pierzynski starting with Game 3. A pitcher in Wainwright joining a former catcher and hitter (Pierzynski) in the booth seems sure to be good, as long as Wainwright is comfortable enough to offer his unfiltered perspective and disagree if it’s warranted. Amin is a good play-by-plan man, so maybe he’ll help tee Wainwright up to offer his thoughts.