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Garcia, Wacha to follow Lackey in NLDS rotation

Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images Sport / Getty

One day after announcing that John Lackey will start Friday's series opener against the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny revealed his tentative starters for the next three games of the National League Division Series.

Matheny confirmed left-hander Jaime Garcia, who fashioned a career-best 2.43 ERA this season, will get the ball Saturday in Game 2 at Busch Stadium, with right-hander Michael Wacha starting Game 3 at Wrigley Field two days later. If necessary, Lance Lynn will take the mound for Game 4 in Chicago on Tuesday.

Though his career was almost derailed by recurrent shoulder problems, Garcia made 20 starts for St. Louis this season, his most since 2012, while re-establishing his spot in a rotation ravaged by the loss of Adam Wainwright. The 29-year-old also authored a 1.70 ERA at home in 2015, posting a 5.18 strikeout-to-walk ratio while allowing just two homers in 68 2/3 innings.

Wacha, meanwhile, earned his first All-Star appearance earlier this summer, finishing the campaign with a 3.38 ERA (116 ERA+) and 1.21 WHIP over 30 starts. The young right-hander stumbled down the stretch, though, posting a 7.88 ERA while allowing seven homers in five September starts.

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