Now that Game 162 won't determine the St. Louis Cardinals' postseason fate, they'll take it as an opportunity to see what their top pitching prospect can do against major league competition.
Shelby Miller will make his first career start Wednesday night when the Cardinals take on the Cincinnati Reds at 7:15 p.m. CT in St. Louis. The Cardinals will skip Adam Wainwright, leaving their ace available for either Friday's Wild Card play-in game with the Atlanta Braves or for Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
Miller last started Aug. 31 in Triple-A and has allowed two earned runs in 7⅔ innings out of the Cards' bullpen since. He entered the season as the Cardinals' top minor league prospect, though he struggled to a 4.74 ERA in his first season in Triple-A in 2012.
The Cardinals (87-74) clinched a playoff berth Tuesday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the San Francisco Giants, 4-3.