St. Louis Cardinals’ Jake Westbrook hoping to play if team advance to World Series – NLCS Update
St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Jake Westbrook dropped a hint on Tuesday, October 16, that he is ready to pitch in the World Series should the club qualify. The Cardinals are currently playing against the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series.
The best-of-seven series stands tied 1-1 at the moment. The next game is scheduled for Thursday. While the Cardinals hope to go past, Westbrook stands a chance to be back in the club’s rotation provided the team makes it to the World Series.
Westbrook was reduced to the disabled list when he strained an oblique in his right side in the game against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 8. He had just pitched five innings when he had to leave the game which the Cardinals eventually lost 3-6.
Out of the line-up since then, Westbrook had a simulated game on Tuesday wherein he threw 49 pitches. From what it seems, the pitcher seems all ready to make his way into the line-up. Westbrook feels equally confident about it.
I'm ready to go, without a doubt," Westbrook said. "I feel strong in saying that, especially the way today went."
As for Tuesday’s simulated game, Mike Matheny, the team manager was having a close look at it. In order for Westbrook to be part of line-up for World Series (provided the team qualifies), the team has to reset the 25-man roster before the commencement of the next post-season series.
Matheny said, "As we move forward, we need to see what we have available, take a look at all the options, look at the opposition and be able to make an adjustment from there. There's always the opportunity, too, which we didn't foresee, of a guy like Jaime Garcia being hurt in the middle of a series and then we have to make a move."
If Westbrook returns, this will be another big surprise for the Cardinals, who earlier had seen a surprise in Chris Carpenter’s return. Carpenter was out due to Tommy John surgery and there were no expectations that he would be back. But he did return. It has to be seen whether or not Westbrook manages to return.
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