Waino needs two wins for 200, with only four more chances on the way

ST. LOUIS – At the start of the year, it seemed like a sure thing that Adam Wainwright could reach 200 wins. When he entered his final season with 195 wins, he even joked about it: “If I finish the season with [just] Five wins, will you be happy about that?”

It didn’t go quite as planned. The 42-year-old has 198 wins since mid-June. He has gone winless in his last 11 games, the St. Louis Cardinals have won just one of them, and he has made just two good starts in that span.

The path doesn’t get much easier from here. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the American League-leading Baltimore Orioles (91-52), also among the top teams in runs scored this season.

Including Tuesday, Wainwright would be on track for about four more starts in his regular rotation. This includes the following:

• Tuesday, September 12th against the Baltimore Orioles
• Monday, September 18th against the Milwaukee Brewers
• Saturday/Sunday, 23rd/24th September against the San Diego Padres
• Last home series against the Cincinnati Reds

All four opponents could be quite daunting. The Orioles, Brewers and Reds face Wainwright and are likely still fighting for a playoff spot. Although the Padres are not in the playoffs and are a disappointment by most standards this year, they have a star-studded lineup that can drive pitchers out of games early.

Manager Oli Marmol has not yet announced whether the Cardinals plan to deviate from Wainwright’s normal rotation or perhaps try to use him in strategic relief assignments in hopes of bringing him wins. If Wainwright continues to start, he will need to pitch at least five innings to qualify for a win with the Cardinals in the lead before the next pitcher takes the mound, and ultimately the Cardinals will need to maintain that lead and emerge victorious.

He will also need some help from the offense. In more than half of his 19 starts this season, Wainwright has received one or no run support from his offense on the mound. It adds to a whole series of missed opportunities over the years

Wainwright’s 198 wins are currently the third-most in Cardinals franchise history. If he can break the milestone before October 1, he would be just one of six active pitchers with at least 200 wins.

NOTE: The video attached at the beginning of the story is a separate feature from FOX 2’s Jordan Williams from July in which he analyzes Wainwright’s push to 200 wins.