Game 5 Preview: Experience Vs. Youth

Oct 3, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Wainwright (50) throws to a Pittsburgh Pirates batter during the first inning in game one of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

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Game 5. Winner take all. Nothing is better in baseball than one game deciding the fate of both teams. One will continue their quest for a World Series title in the bitter cold, the other will be booking tee times in sunny Florida. However to every baseball player, the former sounds much better than the latter.

Tonight, the Cardinals will face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The pitching matchup will be verteran Adam Wainwright going up against rookie Gerrit Cole. Both pitchers are outstanding and are the best pitchers on their respective staff. However, one has closer experience in the postseason.

Adam Wainwright was the Cardinals closer in 2006 as they shocked the baseball world as they won the World Series after only winning 83 games during the regular season. Wainwright knows how to close out big games, now he has to close out a series and send the Pirates home disappointed.

Offense needs to step up. 

Geritt Cole shut the door on the Cardinals in Game 2. The Cardinals only got 2 hits and 1 run off of a Yadier Molina home run. That won’t get it done tonight. They must take advantage of the mistakes that Cole will make. Hedoes throw very hard but that doesn’t mean the Cardinals can’t get hits off of him. I believe the Cardinals have watched tape on the Game 2 performance and will attack his tendencies and find out when he usually throws mistake pitches and on what count.

Prediction:

I think the Cardinals will be able to handle the pressure in a Game 5. The Pirates had everything going for them in Game 4. The crowd, the offensive production, almost everything. Now they have to travel to St. Louis to try to win a Game 5 when they could have won the series. The Cardinals thrive in these games after a big win. The Cardinals will win this game.

Cardinals win 4-2. 

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