The Cardinals would appear to be decisive underdogs entering today’s wild card game against the Braves for several reasons. And that’s just fine with manager Mike Matheny.
The Braves finished six games ahead of the Cardinals in the wild card standings and will start a pitcher who is 9-0 with 0.97 ERA in 12 starts this season. And the one-game showdown will be played on the road at Turner Field, where the Braves will have the crowd and the final at-bat on their side.
But the Cardinals know a thing or two about being the underdog. They were underdogs in each of the three series they played last postseason and winded up winning the World Series.
“I don't really put much stock in underdogs or favorites,” Matheny said. “ You go play the game. That is the simplest way to go about it, and it is the truth. You take everything for what it's worth. Numbers are what numbers are. You can't ignore the data. But when it all comes down to it, it comes down to playing through the game.
“Our guys are prepared to do that. They've done it before. They've been the underdogs before. I'd say it's probably as extreme as anybody has ever been, last year. We saw what happened there. So if that is the sentiment right now, I'd say that that may play into our hand. But I don't think that's really the pulse of our clubhouse.”
The Cardinals would likely again be the underdogs against the Washington Nationals should they beat the Braves and advance to the Division Series.
