Due to the shortened spring training, the Cardinals formulated a plan to limit their starters to 80 or so pitches at least the first time through the rotation.
This worked fine on Thursday when Adam Wainwright blanked Pittsburgh for six innings on 81 pitches. But Miles Mikolas was able to draw only 3 2/3 innings out of 77 pitches, despite allowing just two runs, on Saturday. Then, Steven Matz, making his Cardinals debut, was far less efficient on Sunday, retiring only three of the final 12 men he faced while lasting but three innings’ worth on 75 pitches.