So they stole him an extra day of rest here, nudged his start back there, and all of that planning has brought the Cardinals and their prized rookie and de facto ace to this moment of fruition. Flaherty breached the horizon Wednesday, surpassing his previous career high for innings in a 7-3 loss to Atlanta at SunTrust Park. Next, he’ll face wild card-leading Milwaukee, and whatever starts he has ahead will shape the Cardinals’ October — either by getting them there or plunging them deeper into the postseason. The only thing he’s exhausted by is the question.
The first-place Braves avoided a sweep by the Cardinals to creep closer to clinching the NL East title and do what they haven’t in years: defeat the Cardinals in Atlanta.