By Rob Rains
Jack Flaherty might not be a part of the Cardinals’ starting rotation when the regular season begins in two weeks, but he showed again on Thursday while he should be there before long.
Flaherty struck out eight in five innings against the Orioles, allowing only three hits. One of those hits was a solo homer which turned out to be the only run of the game in the 1-0 Baltimore win in Jupiter, Fla.
Flaherty has made four starts during spring training, recording 20 strikeouts in 13 innings, but he is expected to open the year as the top starter for triple-A Memphis.
The timetable for Flaherty’s progression to the majors should parallel that of Luke Weaver's from last season when he moved into the rotation in the second half of the year.
Other news and notes from Thursday:
At the plate: The Cardinals were held to just three hits in the shutout loss, all singles, against five Baltimore pitchers … They had just seven baserunners total in the game, three coming on walks and one reaching on an error, and did not advance a runner past second base … Yairo Munoz, starting in left field – his fourth position of the spring – had one of his rare off days at the plate, going 0-for-3, which dropped his average to .343.
On the mound: Flaherty also issued one walk in his longest outing of the year. In his 13 innings this spring, he has allowed seven hits and walked five. He has given up three homers … John Gant worked three scoreless innings, giving up two hits, while Brett Cecil worked a 1-2-3 ninth, recording two strikeouts.
Up next: The Cardinals will have a pair of games on Friday, splitting the squad for a game against the Nationals in West Palm Beach and hosting the Marlins in Jupiter. Miles Mikolas will start against Washington and Michael Wacha against the Marlins.
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