'Big boys' Wainwright and Lackey take big steps toward Opening Day
JUPITER, Fla. -- Mike Matheny has taken to calling the Cardinals' established veterans his "big boys." Two of the biggest, right-handers Adam Wainwright and John Lackey, took big steps Monday afternoon in their preparations for Opening Day.
Lackey worked three perfect innings in his first spring start as he and five relievers limited the Tigers to three hits, didn't walk anyone and struck out 12 in a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Lackey struck out four in a 37-pitch outing that included 27 strikes, and his fastball reached a lively 92 mph, surprising him and impressing his manager.
"Honestly, it's probably a little bit too early to be throwing that hard," Lackey said with a smile. "I might back it off a little bit next time and bring it back later on."
"In his bullpens, he has been so under control, but today he let it go a little bit and the ball was jumping," said Matheny, adding that he had not seen such easy velocity from the 6-foot-5 right-hander since he was traded to the Cardinals at last year's trade deadline.
Wainwright, who has yet to pitch in an exhibition after straining his abdomen early in camp, did his work before a few dozen fans on one of the backfields at Roger Dean. He threw 50 pitches in a three-inning simulated game against Jon Jay and a few minor leaguers and said his next outing would be in a spring training game.
"Arm-wise, everything was great," Wainwright said. "I knew it was going to be. We're making sure when I get that next step, everything is going to be fine with my abdomen. It seemed to be great."
Wainwright said he considered the practice outing like a "second spring start" and expects to see the mound in an exhibition this week. If he starts on Saturday, which would give him four days' rest, he would be on turn to make the opening night start at Wrigley Field on April 5.
If Wainwright were to debut Saturday, Lackey could either be pushed back or pitch in a minor league game. He said he would have no problems doing that, especially when compared to waiting until Sunday and having to make the 3 1/2-hour trip (each way) to Sarasota for a game against the Orioles.
"I'm totally OK with going back there instead of traveling to some of these places," Lackey said.
As one of the big boys, he figures to be given such an option.
• Kozma shines again. With more than two weeks left before the team breaks camp nothing is official, but you can put it in Sharpie anyway: Pete Kozma will make the 25-man roster. Matheny has talked up Kozma's versatility and athleticism all spring, and the 26-year-old has made his manager look smart.
Called on to play third base Monday, Kozma handled a difficult hop with a backhand grab and seamlessly started a 5-4-3 double play. "He made that play look easy, and that was not an easy play," Matheny said.
Kozma also followed up a 3-for-4 performance Sunday by singling in the game's only run. As he often has done this month, Kozma saw time at more than one position, shifting to shortstop when Jhonny Peralta departed after coming up with his first hit of the spring in the seventh. Kozma has played second, third, shortstop, left and right, and Matheny said after the game that he will see some time in center before the end of spring.
• Adams doesn't beat the shift. When Matt Adams came up and the Tigers moved their third baseman into shallow right field, Adams tried to do what Matheny has said he wants his lefty hitters to do against the shift: Bunt. But Adams had no success. He squared for a bunt on a called strike one, fouled back a bunt attempt on strike two and took a 94-mph fastball for strike three.
"I was happy to see Matt make an attempt to bunt. He's going to have to. I don't mind Jason (Heyward) doing it either in the right situation," Matheny said. "Matt's going to have to show he can do it, not just attempt. He's going to have to get it down."
Matheny said Adams is rushing his attempts. "What it's going to take is he's going to have to trust that he's going to have to get out that early and he's going to have to lay a good one down," Matheny said.
The Tigers also shifted in Adams' second time up, but he didn't attempt to bunt. He did strike out again, though, this time on a 93-mph heater.
FOX Sports Midwest is televising 15 Cardinals spring training games this season. For a full schedule, click here.
• Worth noting. Righty reliever Jordan Walden threw 13 consecutive strikes to start the eighth inning before throwing two balls and then finishing off a perfect inning with a slider that Jordan Lennerton waved at for strike three. ... Don't forget about strike-throwing Tim Cooney in the battle for one of the final two bullpen spots. The lefty threw two more scoreless innings and has allowed only one run in eight innings with no walks so far. "He's making the most of his opportunity," Matheny said. ... Batting at least twice per half inning in the simulated game, Jon Jay had two hits off Wainwright and moved closer to making his spring debut. Jay has been held back after offseason surgery on his left wrist. Jay will get multiple at-bats in a simulated game that Lance Lynn is scheduled to throw Wednesday and should play in his first spring game by the end of the week. ... After giving up runs in his past two outings, Trevor Rosenthal closed out the win with a clean ninth inning.
You can follow Stan McNeal on Twitter at @StanMcNeal or email him at stanmcneal@gmail.com.
