Let’s take a quick look at what is going on with the defending National League Central champions, the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jamie Garcia wins fifth starter spot. The Cardinals held an open competition for the fifth starter spot in their rotation and LHP Jaime Garcia came out on top.

Garcia, who is the Cardinals’ No. 2 ranked prospect by Baseball America, had a pretty impressive spring for the Red Birds. Garcia has a 1.83 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 18.2 innings this spring.

Garcia is known as a groundball pitcher, so seems right up pitching coach Dave Duncan’s alley.

Carpenter will get the ball on Opening Day

Chris Carpenter will get the ball on Opening Day. Tony LaRussa must have been agonizing over this decision for days. Does he go with One or One-A?

You can’t go wrong with Carpenter or Adam Wainwright, but I am guessing LaRussa went with Carpenter because he is the elder statesman. Carpenter went 17-4 with a 2.24 ERA and a ridiculous 1.01 WHIP last season with the Cardinals.

Yadier Molina should be ready for Opening Day. Molina has missed the last week or so of spring training with an oblique injury. Molina suffered the injury while running the bases against the Baltimore Orioles last Wednesday.

Molina is progressing well, so unless he suffers a setback in the next couple of days, Molina should be ready to go for Opening Day.

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By The Baseball Index