St. Louis Cardinals’ Jaime Garcia to start Game 2 against Washington Nationals – NLDS Update
St. Louis Cardinals have named Jaime Garcia as starter for Game 2 of the National League Division Series scheduled for Monday against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium. Garcia will have numerous responsibilities on his shoulder, the priority will be facilitating team’s win after they were defeated in Game 1 by 3-2.
Garcia is well aware of the strength the Nationals have, being one of the best teams out there. The last time the two teams met in the regular season (at Busch Stadium), it was the Cardinals who eventually prevailed. Herein lies a challenge for him once again.
"It was huge," he said. "They have one of the best teams in the National League, they have a really young, talented team, and it was huge for us knowing that we can compete and we can go out there and win some ballgames. But at the same time, postseason is different, and now we've got to lock it in and go out there and try to win the ballgame."
What is essentially different about Garcia is the fact that he had made five starts in last year’s postseason. In such crucial games, slating his name for big starts was obviously a manifestation of the confidence that the club had in him.
With Game 2 on the horizon, his Monday start will be another expression of the sheer confidence in the capabilities and effectiveness of the pitcher. All the same, Garcia will be starting at a time when the Cardinals are down 1-0 in the NLDS.
He vows he will give his best shot to keep the Cardinals in the game. "It definitely helps a little bit, because you've been out there in a situation like we are in right now," Garcia said. "You take what you learned from last year.”
Garcia has a 3.92 ERA this year with 7-7 record. It will be thoroughly interesting to see if he will be able to overcome the Washington Nationals’ batters in a game that will determine the Cardinals’ status for the postseason – especially when they are defending World Series champions.
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