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How Cardinals are scrutinizing their options to find the right stuff for playoff rotation

Come October, uncertainty is the rule.

“The playoffs are always hectic,” said Dakota Hudson, a starter turned reliever who may start in the coming week. “It’s all hands on deck. I’ll be prepared for whatever situation is thrown at us.”

With nine games remaining in the regular season and a 6 ½-game lead in the National League Central, the Cardinals have some latitude to explore the starters they’ll count on in a short, best-of-three series to open the playoffs. And they need it. Jordan Montgomery, a shoo-in for a spot in a playoff rotation a few weeks ago, lost his third consecutive start and allowed as many homers (three) as he had strikeouts in Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.