PITTSBURGH — There’s a reason why he said he keeps the pitching schedule in pencil, and through all of the changes coach Mike Maddux has had to invent on the fly for the Cardinals’ plans, two constants have emerged at the extremes of the pitching staff.
There’s the 22-year-old rookie Johan Oviedo who has arrived earlier than expected and pitched beyond his years, and 39-year-old veteran Adam Wainwright providing essential starts just years after he thought his career was nearing its end.
“He’s found a second wind,” Maddux said. “There was a couple of years ago when he was not in a good spot, and a lot of times you’ve got to have a chat with yourself, ‘Is this it?