Wainwright To Start Spring Training Opener

Adam Wainwright will start the Cardinals first
spring training game. - Photo courtesy of
Jeff Roberson, AP.

Today Adam Wainwright threw live off a mound to some of the St. Louis Cardinals best hitters, including Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday.

Today, according to a report by the Associated Press, he also found out that he will be taking the ball in the Cardinals first spring training game.

Doing so will start Wainwright down a path that would lead him to being the Cardinals opening day starter when it really counts on March 31st.

Starting on opening day is something that the runner-up in the 2010 Cy Young Award voting is excited about.

"If it happens then that would be awesome," Wainwright said. "It's a tremendous honor, especially in St. Louis. As fun as it is to play the first game, the crowd is even more buzzing than it normally is — that amazing feel in the air baseball's back in town."

If Wainwright is chosen to start the regular season opener it will be well-deserved.  Wainwright has been the best pitcher on a staff that includes former Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter over the past 2 plus seasons.

In 2010, Wainwright was 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA.  The star pitcher also posted 213 strikeouts in 230.1 innings. 

The Cardinals open the season at home against the San Diego Padres.